Spiritual Alignment

I had to go to the chiropractor not long ago for some minor problems I was having with my back and neck. With a few adjustments the chiropractor was able to get my spine back into alignment, eliminating my symptoms of pain and numbness. It made me think about how we can get out of alignment spiritually as well.

We might not be exactly where we need to be in our relationship with God, or perhaps we aren’t completely lined up with his instructions or teachings. Sometimes we’ll seem to notice that things feel just a little bit off or not right (like my back and neck did). We may even notice that we have drifted away slightly or don’t feel as passionate as we used to. There might be a sense of dryness or just going through the motions. We may feel spiritually unproductive or unfruitful.

When we are spiritually misaligned we can become spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically depleted. These may all be symptoms of spiritual misalignment just as my pain and numbness were symptoms of physical misalignment.

Staying connected to Jesus to maintain spiritual alignment

Around that same time that I went to the chiropractor, I had spent some time reading John 15 and noticed how it shows us one way we can stay IN spiritual alignment by abiding or remaining in Jesus and his love and by God’s word abiding in us.

Pastor Tony Evans said, “John 15 says that if you will abide in Him and His Word, and He abides in you, you can do anything. You can overcome anything. Your prayers will be answered because your prayers will be aligned to Him. Jesus doesn’t want you to just learn about Him, study some stories, post some Scripture and throw up some prayers. He wants a relationship with YOU. That’s the kingdom encounter you need to pursue. It’s called: abiding.”^[1]

“1I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

5“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

9“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 

16You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:1-17 (NLT)

Another analogy: Tires

As I was thinking about the word “alignment” another analogy came to mind. I thought of how our tires on our vehicles can get out of alignment if not maintained or adjusted. To stay in alignment my car needs periodic alignment and adjustments, and the tires have to be balanced and rotated to keep my car in a good and reliable operating condition. Much the same, we too will need some maintenance and adjustments to stay spiritually aligned.

If my tires get out of alignment, my car will not drive smooth and steady. It will start steering or pulling off to one side and will require compensation. I will have to pull or hold the steering wheel in an opposite direction, which can eventually tire me or wear me out. This is also dangerous because I might veer into another lane, off the road, or into a ditch, causing potential accidents and possible injury. Additionally, misalignment will also cause wear and tear on my tires causing a need for replacement sooner.

Similarly, when we are out of spiritual alignment, our lives will not run smooth and steady. We may start to be pulled in a different direction from God and his ways or purpose. We might then try to compensate and try to take control of the direction of our life, which will eventually tire us and wear us out. Spiritual misalignment can also be dangerous leading to sin (or more sin) which can produce even more trouble or damage in our lives, in our relationships, and in our homes.

Incidents that cause misalignment

Sometimes there may be situations that cause my car to get out of alignment such as unexpectedly hitting a pothole or a curb. In life we can often encounter unexpected trials or trouble that can throw us off balance. Our “pothole” might even be sin that knocks us out of alignment.

Other times we get out of spiritual alignment simple because we stop or slow in doing regular spiritual disciplines such as regularly reading our Bible, spending time in prayer, attending church, spending time with other believers who will hold you accountable, and so on. There are times when veering off course or getting out of alignment is just a slow, almost seemingly undetectable process.

It’s helpful to know the source of the misalignment because we can then take steps to fix or reverse it.

Take Some Practical Steps for Spiritual Alignment:

• First, look for signs of being out of alignment.

Do a self-assessment and start asking yourself some questions… Does something just feel a little off or out of place? Do you feel like you’ve drifted, pulled, or veered away from God? Do you feel like you’re just going through the motions? Does your spiritual life feel dry? Do you have a hard time hearing from God? Is your life productive or “fruitful”? Do you have unaddressed sin in your life? Are you spiritually, emotionally, mentally, or physically depleted?

• Then, assess what caused you to become out of alignment.

Just as a chiropractor needs to isolate the area causing the problem or as a mechanic would need to pinpoint the specific area where the tires are out of line, you need to determine, if possible, what caused your misalignment. Was it any kind of sin or compromise? Was it troubles or problems that you endured? Have you just slowly started steering away from spiritual disciplines (such as regularly reading your Bible, prayer, attending church, spending time with other believers who will hold you accountable, etc.)? If you can’t determine the cause on your own, ask for God’s help.

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.” Lamentations 3:40 (NIV)

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT)

“But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.” Psalm 19:12 (NIV)

• Next, practice daily habits and spiritual disciplines to stay in alignment and abide or remain in Jesus (and he in you).

Get back to (or start) a regular routine of reading your Bible, spending time in prayer, attending church, and spending time with other Christians who will hold you accountable. When you make these things a habit, God will realign and transform your heart to line up with his. Daily routines will keep you on track and prevent you from losing your way or steering in the wrong direction. Additionally, reread and meditate on John 15:1-17.

“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.” Revelation 2:4-5 (NLT)

“Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.” Revelation 3:3 (NLT)

• After realigning your spirit with God, align your spirit, soul, and body.

Your spirit should take the lead. Your body (or flesh as the Bible often describes it) will lead you off course if allowed to take the lead. The same is true for your soul, which consists of your mind, will and emotions. These things are bad leaders and can steer you in the wrong direction. The Holy Spirit will help to guide your spirit to follow God and his ways. Then you must make your body and soul submit to your spirit and the Holy Spirit’s leading.

“Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NLT)

“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.” Romans 8:5-8 (NLT)

“Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” Ephesians 4:23 (NLT)

• Don’t rely only on your own efforts to get into alignment.

Sometimes you will need outside help, like you would need a chiropractor for your spinal alignments or a mechanic for your vehicle alignments. You can’t always align yourself by yourself. Using your own effort and willpower to live your life or to try to stay on track is comparable to fighting with and pulling at a steering wheel that veers off course unless you constantly hold it in position. It can get exhausting!

You may need help of another person—a friend, a small group, a pastor, a counselor, etc. Additionally, you need God’s help. I read somewhere that God is our master mechanic, and we need God’s professional tools to calibrate our lives. We need to submit to HIS will and rely on HIS grace and strength and not our own efforts. The Holy Spirit is our helper in this process too.

“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NLT)

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17 (ESV)

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26 (ESV)

• Finally, do maintenance—Just like a spine or your vehicle’s tires, you will require periodic adjustments when symptoms arise in addition to routine or maintenance checks.

How do you know when you are out of spiritual alignment? What are some practices you do to get realigned? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below!

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If you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward!  Share this post via the sharing links below.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

1. Evans, Tony. “The Secret Power of Abiding-Day 1.” Bible.com, my.bible.com/reading-plans/22243-the-secret-power-of-abiding/day/1. ↑