Clarity not Clairvoyance

 “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” -2 Corinthians 4:6 (NKJV)

Clarity is defined as “the quality of being coherent and intelligible.”

There are few things that are more desired in our lives than clarity.  Whether it be in career, marriage, or even in friendships, we desire to be able to clearly understand where we stand and where we are going.  Much of our lives are spent seeking clarity about who we are and what is coming.

Turn on Christian TV or quickly google for terms like “prophetic” and you will find yourself inundated with men and women who have set themselves up to take advantage of the modern Christian fixation on receiving a “word.”

We gather in worship centers seeking to find information about God, the universe, and ourselves.  We seek educational opportunities to gain clarity about the world around us.  Our governments fund research into the expanses of the sea and space, hoping to gain insight.  We hire life coaches and seek out career gurus, hoping that clarity can be found in their expertise.  The biggest testament to the human search for clarity may be the palm readers, tarot spots, and other clairvoyant industries that seem to exist in every town.

Of course, before we are too quick to mock those who would make use of such services, we have to admit that Christianity has its own infatuation with fortune telling.  Turn on Christian TV or quickly google for terms like “prophetic” and you will find yourself inundated with men and women who have set themselves up to take advantage of the modern Christian fixation on receiving a “word.”

For the sake of “clarity” (see what I did there), I must insert that I am a Pentecostal and I completely believe in the gifts of the Spirit being in operation.  However, I am concerned that many are seeking words from others rather than seeking God on their own.  This leads not to clarity but to more confusion as they run from place to place and are constantly poured into by different visions.  Some seem to have trouble understanding that if you run from place to place seeking to hear a “word” you will sometimes find yourself sitting under a teaching or hearing a prophetic word that is not for you.  Then you wonder why it seems to conflict with other messages.  Perhaps, you heard things that were not for you?  That sure muddies the water.

That brings us a second definition of clarity which should help us understand how it can be achieved.

Clarity is also defined as “the quality of transparency or purity.”  Notice that transparency is accompanied by purity.  Often we seek clarity in our lives, clarity in seeing what God has for us, clarity in our mission, but we fail to remove the things that blur our vision.

January is a month that is full of fasting.  There are few things that work better to help us find clarity than fasting.  Fasting overcomes the flesh so that the Spirit can lead.  Fasting things outside of food shuts out many of the distractions of our daily lives that fill us with such noise that hearing God’s voice is difficult.  Perhaps you have been slow to engage in fasting this year, or maybe you never have before.  Allow me to encourage you, there are few things that will work better to help you find clarity than removing distractions.

So today, ask yourself.  What is muddying the waters in my life?   Is it a habit?  Is it a relationship?  Is it some form of entertainment?

Purity only comes when contaminants are removed.

Clarity only comes when purity is achieved.