Aligning with God

Introduction

As a believer, you must learn to separate your personal desires from God’s will in every area of your life. Your desires might be sincere, genuine, and free of selfish interests, but still fail the test of God’s approval. Therefore, your focus must be on how to live your life in alignment with the Holy Spirit, so you do not fall into error or live a life that attracts the applause and admiration of people but is not recognized by heaven. Colossians 3:1-4 says, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” This scripture contains wisdom on aligning with God as born-again Christians. Let’s examine some of them.

Seeking the Things Above

The first verse of Colossians 4 is very instructive about living in alignment with God. It implores us to change our priorities even as we have become changed people.

The born-again experience is not a mere confession but a transformation. In other words, you become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). This newness affects your thought process, your speech, your actions, and how you approach everything. For example, before being born again, you can go anywhere you like and do whatever pleases you. However, as a new creation, everything you think and do revolves around Jesus Christ. Therefore, you live your life to please Him, not yourself or others.

You begin to think and act like Christ. You do the things He wants and reject those He rejects. In other words, you are aligned with Him. That is the first visible sign that you are no longer who you used to be.

To be aligned with God, you must see things the way He sees them, not by your physical eyes or senses but by the inspiration of God. For example, Peter saw Jesus’ suffering and death as something that made no sense. He even rebuked Jesus for making such a confession (Matthew 16:21–23). However, the truth is that the cross was the path to redemption.

Just as Peter did, many believers facing certain challenges rebuke the devil and pray for God’s deliverance. But the reality is that their difficult experiences align with God’s will for them because it will lead to their glorification. That is why the Apostle Paul prayed that our eyes of understanding may be enlightened. Job was in a sorry state, but God permitted it. Likewise, Joseph’s journey from slavery to prison was God’s will for His life. If he had not aligned with it, He would never have become Egypt’s Prime Minister.

Therefore, we must not compare our life experiences and journeys with those of people in the world, nor be drawn to pursue what they chase after merely for the benefits they hope to gain. Instead, we must seek wisdom from God to show us what to do every time, so we do not walk in error and frustration but with purpose and understanding. This is when we rejoice in all things, because we know that everything, including our sufferings, works together for our good when we are aligned with God (Romans 8:28).

Setting Your Mind on Things Above

Ephesians 2:6 says, we have been raised together with Christ and seated with Him in the heavenly places. In other words, even though we are physically in this world, our spiritual reality is that we are at the right hand of God. We are in a position of power and authority. Therefore, our lives must reflect that spiritual position.

Someone who is sitting in the heavenly realms does not meddle with earthly things because they are of no benefit to them. In other words, as a spiritually conscious person, your life’s choices and pursuits must be things that have eternal value.

Jesus was always conscious of His divine assignment and spiritual position, even when He was physically here on earth. That was why He was always about His “Father’s Business.” Everything He did was connected to His assignment and for God’s name to be glorified (Luke 2:49). He was not after fame, money, or people’s praise but was doing good everywhere He went (Acts 10:38).

Now that you have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into God’s kingdom of light and are now sitting with Christ in heavenly places, your mission should be about fulfilling the will of God always. You must actively live with the consciousness that you are not of this world, even though you are in this world (John 17:16). Therefore, everything you do, whether great or small, must have eternal value so you do not live your life chasing things that will not pass the test of time.

You may be wondering how to set your mind on things above and not on things on the earth. It’s simpler than you think. First, pray the prayer of inquiry by asking the Lord what He wants you to do each day. You can never go wrong when you receive His instruction and walk it out daily. Next, practice prompt obedience. When you choose to obey God’s voice no matter what, you remain perfectly aligned with Him.

Thirdly, fill your heart with God’s Word so much that it drowns every earthly thought and idea in your heart. Eat God’s Word like you do your breakfast, lunch, and dinner (Jeremiah 15:16). God’s Word planted in your heart will prevent you from conforming to the patterns of this world because it will always renew your mind (Romans 12:2).

Your Life Hidden in Christ

This is the reality many born again Christian have not yet fully grasped or are still struggling with. The born-again experience involves death, burial, and resurrection. We die to sin, and our old self is buried. We then resurrect as new creatures in Christ. That is why 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Old things that must pass away may include the dreams, plans, and visions we had before encountering Christ. All these personal ambitions must die so you can fully embrace the life of Christ and the newness it brings.

For example, before his salvation, Paul was an expert in Jewish law (Acts 22:3). His goal was to persecute the followers of Jesus and stop the spread of the Gospel (Acts 8:1–3; Acts 9:1–2). However, everything changed the moment He encountered Christ. He was given a new mission that aligned with God’s plan to spread the Gospel to the Gentile nations.

Jesus’ disciples all had their personal occupations and ambitions before they met Christ. However, everything changed when Jesus came into the picture. Therefore, your new life in Christ is to pursue God’s agenda, not your personal ambition. All your dreams outside Christ died the moment you said yes to Jesus, and the life you have now is that of Christ. All you do must align with Him. “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).

Therefore, always pray that the Lord reveals His plans for your life so you do not waste time pursuing what He has not endorsed, and ask Him for the courage to embrace the plans He shows you.

When Christ Appears

This is a statement of eternal hope. It is the assurance that whatever you are doing now, because of the life of Christ you possess, is not in vain. The good news about living the life of Christ is that there is an eternal reward. In other words, we will be glorified.

Having this knowledge gives you the courage to keep obeying God and living according to His will, even if it means going against everyone and the world’s system. The reward might not be instant, but it is eternal.

This truth also helps you endure hardship without compromise, because you know that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

Finally, knowing that you will be glorified with God keeps you from chasing temporary rewards, because you understand that Christ is your eternal reward.