Spiritual alignment is about bringing order to life—God’s order—multidimensional order that brings many real blessings. Life functions and flows in order. Without order, other dynamics like disorder, dysfunction and chaos rules and reigns. It causes a wide range of negative effects and conflicts. We see this in personal lives, families, the workplace, and every type of organization and entity.
RELEVANCE
When we think about spiritual order and alignment, two key dimensions come to mind: inner and outer dimensions. Spiritual order, therefore, provides inner strength and stability. It keeps our thoughts, desires and motivations in order. It also provides guidance to direct our outer actions, relate with others and carry out our assignments in life. Yes, we all have assignments. Some are given to us in school or in our work. Others are given to us by God—more than we think—because our Creator has higher things in store, higher promises for us.
So, it behooves us to come to greater understanding about spiritual alignment. Therein lies the greater dynamics governing the higher issues of life, and likewise, the greater solutions to life’s many challenges and conflicts.
Bringing God into the equations of life takes faith. More than beliefs, though, true faith relates to trust. This is where many of us have issues. So, it takes coming to know God in a real way to connect with God and place our trust in God. The more we actively trust God—our Creator, sovereign ruler of the universe, Heavenly Father—the more we can engage with Him and come into alignment with His sovereign ways to bring about His higher and greater outcomes. The Bible refers to this as fruitfulness. And greater fruitfulness—God’s kind of fruitfulness—works for our greater good and God’s greater glory.
Jesus brings to life an amazing spiritual reality to help us find the path to true spiritual alignment and come into real alignment with God. “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). So, see this amazing spiritual reality: His way involves finding God’s higher truth to experience His higher life—life more abundantly.
In considering this spiritual reality, consider a key dynamic of spiritual alignment: willingness and responsiveness. God had a reason in directing the prophet Isaiah to start off his great book with the subject of willingness and responsiveness. “If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land…” (Isaiah 1:19). Understanding the greater meaning of the Hebrew words used gives us greater insight into God’s perspective on the matter.
The Hebrew word used for willing—tobu—relates to our disposition and inclination. It conveys a sense of breathing after, cheerfully agreeing, being ready to do with wholehearted passion and commitment. The Hebrew word used for obedient—shama—is an expansive word, conveying a variety of dynamics from active and attentive listening to intentional responding and following through with diligence. So, it begins with our hearing. More than just passively hearing, however, it conveys a sense of active listening, processing and understanding to apply and do with purpose and vigor to achieve specific outcomes.
Both concepts, therefore, translate into more than the human mind typically thinks. Yet God looks for both conditions of our heart and mind to come into alignment to begin and carry out our endeavors to realize His blessings—bear good fruit. So, He extends amazing grace and offers us a suite of great grace gifts! As we seek the Lord concerning issues we face, He is faithful to lead us in His ways and towards His solutions.
REFLECTION
What things have you not been willing to do that God may want you to do?
How do you think you can start doing things you’ve not been willing to do?
What do you think is the cause of stubbornness?