Welcome to day 9 of 21 Days of Prayer.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Of all the things in life that will stop you from reaching your goals in 2018, is the doubt and despair of a guilty conscious. Guilt and condemnation will paralyze you. It will stop forward momentum, derail your confidence as you beat yourself down and leave you doubting your ability to get the job done.

When you carry doubts, fear and guilt in your heart, you must get clean on the inside before you can see results on the outside.

There was a man who walked into a bar and ordered a beer. As soon as he received the beer, he splashed the beer in the bartender's face. Then he immediately started apologizing and helping the bartender clean up. He explained that he has a compulsion to do that and even though he fights it, he didn't know what to do about it because it keeps happening. The bartender told him that he'd better get some help with it because he would remember and never serve him a drink again. The man left and many months later returned. He ordered a beer and the bartender refused to serve him. He told him that he'd been to a psychiatrist and his problem was solved. So the bartender served him a beer. The man took the beer, swished it around in the glass and threw it into the bartender's shocked face. He said, "I thought you said you were cured!". The man said, "I am...I still do it but I don't feel guilty about it anymore!"

This man took the easy way out. Even though he sought help from a psychiatrist, he became convinced that he couldn't change his behavior so he found a way to accept his behavior.

Remember this: Your problem is not fixed until your behavior changes.

It's not okay to just allow the stuff that hinders or holds you back to co-exist with God's revealed purposes in your heart. It's time to get clean! The darkness that is casting shadows over your energetic desire to win in life, must be driven away. Instead of seeking man's help, David sought God's help.

First, he prayed that God would "create" in him a clean heart. Are you willing to allow God to create in you? Don't be so quick to agree. Because this is a process that requires surrender. God works in us when we give up our right to do, say or feel whatever seems just. This cleansing process is not about rights. It is about surrendering to God's plan for your life.

Secondly, David realized change not only required that he clean up his heart but he also needed to be renewed in the spirit of his mind. He asked God to renew a "steadfast" spirit within him. When you are steadfast, you are resolute, dutifully firm and unwavering in your determination to achieve what you know you are called to do. Simply put, you start and you do not quit. You set your face like the hardened surface of flint rock and no matter what blows your way, it bounces off like a ricocheting bullet.

It's time to get clean ~ let's pray!

Lord God, I am humbled by the greatness of your power to reveal the weakness that hinders and holds me back. I don't like the way guilt, doubt and fear makes me feel but I can't seem to do what is necessary to let it go. This bondage of my mind, will and emotions is now in Your hands. I surrender to You O God and ask you to set me free. I will no longer put my trust in man's power, nor in man's might but I trust in Your Spirit to deliver me from the grip of my own thoughts, emotions, doubts and fear. In this moment, I release all of my doubt, fear and guilt to You. Create in me a clean heart O God. Renew a steadfast spirit within me. In the name of Jesus, I am convinced that I no longer have to accept the things about myself that I do not like. In the name of Jesus, I know that I can change and right now, I am washed, I am whole, I am steadfast and I am clean! In Jesus' name, Amen!

Inspiring Hope and Seasoning Faith, Pastor Sean