Alignment Brings Peace
This coming Wednesday, February 22nd, we enter the Liturgical season of Lent. Lent is a time of preparation leading to Easter Sunday when Christians around the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
During Lent, Christians are encouraged to live simply, emphasizing interior spiritual work and to:
seek God in prayer through reading Scripture,
give to those less fortunate, and
practice self-control through the spiritual discipline of fasting.
Since last Thursday’s post, two more readers have shared their 2023 theme
words. I thought both were perfect to pass along to you in preparation for Lent.
Alignment is one reader’s word. According to Elizabeth Dhokia, a podcaster and life coach, “Alignment is when our thoughts, life-choices, and direction all honour our core values.” I like that definition a lot.
When I think of the core values of a Christ-follower—that which will bring a person’s life into greater alignment with Jesus—my mind immediately goes to his words found in Matthew 22:37-40:
“Jesus said, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” (The Message)
The outcome of this kind of alignment is Peace, which is the word another reader chose to set the tone for her in 2023.
The prophet Isaiah foretold the coming Messiah would be called “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6), and on the final day Jesus spent with his disciples before his crucifixion, he said,
“Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.”(John 14:27 NASB)
As you consider seeking greater alignment with Jesus during Lent, I pray you will experience the peace Jesus promised to give,
Praying for Alignment on Your Journey
