Word for Today: Alignment

In the last few moments we have in September 2021, I wanted to share the word guiding my thoughts. Alignment. Yes. I very simple word that literally and figuratively means, the state of becoming straight or getting in line. Even further, it means that you are moving toward a form of right-ness, better yet, adjusting to get into the right place.

Let’s set the scene.
Imagine...you are heading to the grocery store because there’s no food in the house. On your way to the store, you see the bank, and remembered you had to make a deposit. So, you do that, and while doing that, you walk into the nearby store to pick up that thing you needed for the house. After you purchase that, you get a phone call from a friend you hadn’t seen in a long time. They just so happen to be nearby and wanted to see if you were available for lunch. Sure thing! You meet up for lunch, chit chat, and catch up. You lose track of time and realize you had to be somewhere else. You head there. You finish and are so exhausted afterwards you head home. But guess what… there’s still no food in the house. Why, because you didn’t go grocery shopping.

Now my family would believe this is a true story, but its not. Well, maybe it is because I don’t have any food in my house currently, but that’s because I haven’t left it in several days {don’t judge me. we are still in a pandemic. I digress}. Some would say, just have it delivered. But either way, I would have to sit and make time to create a list. And then search and put in my virtual cart. It would still mean, that I would have to do something that leads me towards getting my groceries. Get it. Everything I did in that imagined day had nothing to do with what my purpose was – to get groceries so there is food in the house. However, I spent all my time doing everything but that. My purpose was one thing…and I did other things, I didn’t even do anything that would support the fulfillment of that purpose. And that, my friends, sums up the misalignment in my life.

I have so many goals in mind that I am trying to accomplish, and while I am working toward them, God has purposed me to do one thing. And I ain’t doing it. Not because I don’t want to. Not because I don’t have a mind to. Not even because I don’t have the faith to. I just ain’t doing it.  I have allowed every other distraction, good and bad, to stifle the blessed purpose God has placed before me. I have only myself to blame.

This past month, I have pushed, prodded, and fought myself to get back on track, get in alignment, get back to the path of right-ness. And while difficult, it’s been excellent for my spirit. This alignment has allowed me to realize true, undefiled joy in the simplest of things, such that I don’t squander away the gifts and talents God has blessed me to use for the one thing He’s asked me to do – HIS WILL.

"But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner’s fire And like launderers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.!” ~Malachi 3: 2 - 3