Jesus was tempted three times by Satan after fasting for forty days. Each time Satan tried to tempt Jesus, He responded with the Word of God. How many of us respond to the temptations of Satan with the Word? Do we spend time studying the Word to even have it in us to fight him off? Or do we give in to the temptation because that is what we want?

My response for a long time was to give in to what tempted me without any regard for what is right or wrong. If that is what I wanted, that is what I did. Nowhere in my thoughts did I say, “Should I be doing these things?” I did not seek God to help me turn from what I wanted to do. I went in and I went hard for what I wanted. But what I had to realize was this, my spirit had been disconnected as if it was a loose wire that needed to be reconnected like the wires pulled apart and then reconnected to jumpstart a vehicle.  

My wires, essentially my life support, my spirit, had been disconnected and I only had myself to blame. I have voiced to several people that my ex showed me who I wanted him to be. But, as time elapsed and we started spending more time together, who he really was could no longer stay hidden , or lay dormant. It continued to manifest. As much as he showed me who I wanted, I had to face the reality of who he truly was. 

This was also true for me during a season in my life. I was living a double life. Putting up a front of who I wanted people to see, which is the person I desired to be. I honestly didn’t want my walk to deter someone else from God’s love. Beyond what I showed and what I was fighting with internally, was the person no one saw. The person who gave into her flesh daily behind closed doors. The person who, when tempted, took the bait every time. 

And let me tell you, as much as I tried to front like I was together. There were a few who knew I was not and let me know about it too. Somewhere down the road, I had to get myself (my spirit) back in alignment. If you have ever been in a vehicle whose steering wheel was out of alignment, then you know if you let go of the steering wheel, the vehicle would pull left or right depending on the problem. 

When my daddy was teaching me how to drive, he would say take your hands off the steering wheel. He even tried to knock them down a couple of times. He saw I was holding on too tight. And I would not let go. He said baby, “the car will drive itself”, staying on the desired path, and moving forward in the right direction if it was in proper alignment. He wanted me to trust the car. I ended up going in every direction but the right one. I wanted to be in control instead of trusting the car to do what it was designed to do. 

I heard what my daddy said, but mentally I did not trust it. As much knowledge that I had, I still did not trust God to take my hands off my own life (like the steering wheel) and let Him guide me in the right direction. When I did not let go, my spirit became out of alignment and I was going every direction, but the one God was trying to take me. 

Because I was giving into my flesh, my wants and my ways instead of God’s, I had gotten out of alignment. So what started to dwell in my spirit was, “How do I get to the person that I am showing everyone?” if I am to truly be the person I desired to be. How was I going to get back into alignment?”

I went to my church, a spiritual repair shop if you will, (Faith Church, the birthing center for deliverance) to be calibrated, fixed, and adjusted to be brought back into spiritual alignment with God. My church family did their part to bring me back into alignment, and it is an experience I’ll never forget. But here is what I had to do for myself. 

First, I had to acknowledge that I had sinned against God and that what I was doing was wrong. Briefly stated, I had to ask God for forgiveness, repent, and turn from my ways. 1 John 1:9 NIV states “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Second, I had to come face to face with the things that led me to give into my flesh. I will say this pride, self-will, and stubbornness are very powerful spiritual strongholds and are not of God. Again, I had to acknowledge these things, and fight my way out of these strongholds.  2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV states, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Third, I had to decide. I had to decide that choosing God was greater than any of my fleshly desires, more than anything that Satan could tempt me with. God chooses us time and time again. It was my turn to choose Him and only Him. Joshua 24:15 ESV states, “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Finally, I had to begin seeking God, spending time with Him, reading His word. I begin to deny my flesh daily of the things that had consumed me, the things I desired, the things I wanted. I had to align my desires with the will of God for my life. Matthew 16:24 AMP states, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” Besides, how could I fight off Satan if I were not prepared for the fight? I had to study the Word!

After coming to terms with all these things that led to being calibrated, fixed, and adjusted spiritually, who I am on the outside, is who I am on the inside. I have been brought back into spiritual alignment. It is such a beautiful feeling to be in alignment with God! 

At some point, we cannot continue to allow our self-will to have us going in every direction except being in alignment with God. What is keeping you from being spiritually aligned with God? He wants us in alignment with Him going forward in his direction. We must be willing to let go of our lives and let God drive!