Illuminating Clarity: In the stillness of your heart, clarity is born.
In the stillness of your heart, clarity is born. These words penned by Pete Scazzaro of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship speak such truth. It is in the times of quiet and stillness, that I am most able to see my next steps. But how often do I allow this into my life? Quiet and stillness are critical to living out the calling on my life. A good friend of mine once said, “Diane, don’t ever feel guilty for spending time alone. The creativity that comes out of you in these moments bears much fruit.” This is true. Something happens in me and through me whenever I am still. I may even be walking, but my mind and my heart are still. I am focused on Jesus, relishing the time to reflect back so He can show me the way forward. It is a rhythm I have established in the past few years that it has shown to be time well spent. I may have a quiet morning, sometimes it is unexpected, I am tempted to busy myself with the “to do” list but I fight against it and focus. I intentionally focus on God and His Word. Then I wait for words or pictures to come. They almost always do in one way or another. I go back in my journal to see what God has been showing me. Something is revealed that I hadn’t noticed before and I focus on that, allowing it to just flow into whatever it is supposed to be…writing, drawing, a post, a message for someone. I don’t control it, I align myself to whatever it is God wants to do in and through me.
Clarity leads to peace, direction, and purpose.
Every year I choose two words to guide me through the new year and give me focus. This year my two words are Illuminating Clarity. The word, clarity, came first a few months ago, but I couldn’t seem to nail down the second word. Then, on New Year’s day, while cleaning, it came to me. The word paired with clarity is illuminating! It was a bright sunny day. As I was cleaning I realized, much to my dismay, that the dust and cobwebs were much more visible with the sun shining into the room. The sun illuminated the places where the dirt was accumulating and needed to be cleaned! This is so true in life as well. Light is necessary to see clearly the path before us. Later on that day as I was walking, I heard the words whispered into my spirit…Illuminating Clarity…revealing truth by uncovering hidden things! Yes! These are the words that will give me focus and direction in 2023. Trust me, I am already having to live into these words as I write this post. Our God is faithful. I am trusting Him to illuminate my path as He reveals truth and shows me the way forward.
