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My dear friend, I have recently received feedback from various ministry partners in response to my E-Letter on the Seven Steps to Coming Clean and as a result I have revisited those steps and made certain changes. Please note that we all struggle with a revolutionary concept as Coming Clean. I struggle daily with the process of what coming clean is as much as you do, and I remain on my knees asking the Lord for the wisdom and discernment to write what I believe He has placed on my heart. It will never be my position or that of Coming Clean Ministries that we have a hold on any absolute truth outside of God’s revealed truth in His Holy Scriptures. Therefore, I urge you not to ever take anything I write for granted. Meditate on it and see how it fits in with God’s Word. Challenge me daily and by doing so we all would strive to be as He is. It is imperative that we understand that it is critical for Coming Clean Ministries and all our “Cartel” members to commit to Coming Clean and Staying Clean. The seven steps are a guideline to help us in the process but they are not definitive answer. God’s Holy Spirit will teach us individually and corporative all that we need to learn (John 14:17, 26). Furthermore, as a result of all the dialogue we are enjoying, I believe that we need to spend sometime over the next few weeks braking down each of the seven steps so that we can all reach a more definitive understanding of what it means to come clean. When we do this, the world will not doubt our transparency. Finally, my friend, I urge you to spend sometime re-reading all the passages in the Scriptures as they relate to “Christ’s Temptation.” Meditate on this: We have knowledge that Jesus was tempted because He Came Clean to us about it. Imagine that, our Savior, our God has Come Clean with His creation. He did not hold back. He told us that HE was tempted. We rejoice on the fact that He overcame sin. How are we to pray for each other over “our temptations” if no one wants to Come Clean. We can come clean, because HE first came clean. 1. I believe that I am powerless to break the chains that hold me in bondage and prohibit me from Coming Clean. 2. I believe that a power greater than myself can help me Come Clean and thus be liberated. 3. I have decided to turn my will and my life over to God as I ask Him for the power to Come Clean. 4. I have allowed God to search my heart and I have identified the critical issues I need to Come Clean about and those with whom I have to Come Clean. 5. I have Come Clean with God, family and those whom I have hurt. 6. I have asked God to give me a contrite heart so that I can Come Clean. 7. I have asked God to give me strength to be transparent before Him and others. My friend, pray that Coming Clean will be a critical part of our walk with Christ. Remember before there is redemption there must be confession and repentance. But how can we repent if we do not confess. We must first Come Clean. If you have any further observations, I urge you to please e-mail them to us. Next week we will revisit the Staying Clean model.
God bless you,
Jorge Valdes, Ph.D.
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