Beware of Clear Mud

A few years ago, when my youngest daughter was five, two of her cousins were down to visit. Imagine three little girls, stair stepped in height and age from six to four, with my little tow headed blondie in the middle. We had a spot in our yard that stayed wet even in the height of the summer drought. Because there was grass underneath, the water stayed clear on the top, but the minute you stepped into it, you were covered in mud. I sent the girls out to play and told them to stay away from the muddy spot in the yard. Five minutes later there was a knock at the front door. Three little girls with downcast faces, just like the three little kittens who lost their mittens, were covered in mud from the knees down. I looked at my daughter and asked her why she didn't stay away from the mud. " But Momma," she wailed, "it was clear mud."

How often do we as Christians step into clear mud? The thing seems harmless at first glance. Our intentions are innocent and all the sudden we are covered in not so clear mud. Maybe it is a friendship that goes too far with a member of the opposite sex. It doesn't have to be physical, but when you start looking for emotional intimacy with a member of the opposite sex, that is sign that clear mud is doing more damage than you think. It is easy to rationalize poor choices. Ask God to show you where you are headed into clear mud today: compromises in your marriage, your job, your friendships, or your relationship with God. And then do what those little girls did, confess and ask for help.

I did not yell at those three little girls. The intent of their heart was not one of rebellion. I did take them in, help them strip off those muddy shoes and socks, put them in the tub and clean them up. I John 1:9 says that if we will confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If you've wandered into clear mud, don't try to clean it up by yourself. You will probably just make a bigger mess. Run to your heavenly Father today. Trust Him to forgive and cleanse you. Hope this Hug from Heaven helped you today.