She said, ‘alignment’.
I knew what she meant at the time. What she described was very familiar to me. She wanted to do something but felt a restraint on doing it because she wasn’t in line with what was right for the time. It would be more about he impulses and desires, rather than genuinely following the will of God for her life at that time.
For some of us, there is a rather lax and slow-paced approach that often sees us lagging behind because we want to minimise movement wherever possible. For others, there is an over-zealous tendency that wants to run ahead and do things without even paying attention to timing.
Either way, the real challenge in life is to be in step withe the Master as He leads. It’s not something to get over wrought about to the point of being overly analytical of everything you and lamenting at the slightest infraction as though you’re a total dunce. Following Jesus is not meant to be a fear-filled walk where you’re anxiously wondering if you’ve pleased the Master. That’s not the kind of Lord we follow. The point of His grace and kindness is to lead us to repent out of love and reverence to Him rather than a nervy terror that depicts a harsh taskmaster.
This is very helpful in following Him and learning what it is to be in step. The desire to grow in relationship with Him by spending time with Him in prayer, the word, fellowship and service often develops a sensitivity to hearing Him as He directs. It also allows there to be a degree of sensitivity to when we’re out of kilter or not in sync. When we’ve got out of step.
His correction can take on different forms and not all of it is particularly pleasant at the time. The desired outcome of it, however, is to renew, restore and refresh the relationship based on us following Hi as He leads where He leads rather than us assuming and presuming we can go where we want as though we’re doing Him a favour.
This is not something you can nail down immediately without trial and error. Neither is this something that people become such experts in that there’s no need to humbly submit before the Master and learn again what it is to walk in step with Him. This is something that requires an ongoing commitment to meekly seeking Him and being obedient as He instructs.
That way, as she said, there can be an alignment.
(Photo by Miguel A. Amutio on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 