The Spiritual Sweet Spot

In the pursuit of growing and developing in maturity in Christ we want to be in alignment with the heart of God; we ask Him to make it so. It is a prayer to which you can be assured God will say YES! However, we give little thought to how He might go about answering our prayer!

Here is one possible scenario: Someone we trust betrays us. We go crying to God: “Look what he did to me!!” We are deeply hurt and wounded—we want that so and so to know how badly he hurt us, and then we can forgive—maybe . . . well, yes, we will forgive because scripture says we must forgive others’ sins if we want Father to forgive ours. Matt. 6:14-15 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (NIV) Through gritted teeth we forgive. As an addendum to the prayer of forgiveness, we ask that Father help our betrayer know how badly he wounded us. I've noticed that what is only a flesh wound for many, for us highly sensitives ones, hurts cut more deeply, hurt excruciatingly and heal slowly.

But our original prayer was to be in alignment with God’s heart . . . so God does not relent. Scripture goes on to say, ^{Matt. 5:44} But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. (KJV)

Jesus has given us the formula for alignment with God’s heart! To come into alignment with His heart I must do what His word says. I must put aside my desire to hurt back—to cause as much pain as I feel. Then I must bless this person and do them good rather than harm. I must pray for them! God sets the bar very high; yet He knows the stuff from which we are made. He knows we have it in us to do this—and if we don’t have it in us, He made provision. We can call on Him to give us the grace to do what he says we must! He is eagerly waiting with His gift of grace. It is as we do what He says and avail ourselves of His grace that we come into alignment with His heart.

It is simple—not easy, but simple. At times I have told Him I wish He didn’t think I was so strong! The process of coming into alignment may not be easy, but very sweet when we get there! Alignment is the spiritual sweet spot!

If you wish to learn more about spiritual alignment see www.slg.org. Either explore the site or put the word alignment into the search feature. Happy hunting!