#203 Why Obedience Creates Alignment

Pressure has a way of making everything feel louder, harder, and more confusing, but we have learned it can also be the doorway to alignment. We kick off a new month theme focused on alignment and realignment, and we go straight to the engine behind it all: obedience. Not the forced kind, not the performative kind, but the willing decision to submit our thoughts, choices, actions, and desires to what God is saying, even when it is uncomfortable or does not make sense yet.

We anchor the message in Proverbs 16:3: “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” That single line connects two things we often separate: what we do and how we think. When we commit our works to God, He brings stability to our mind and helps establish clarity and direction. That is why we say alignment comes after pressure. Trials and tribulations can refine us, not ruin us, when we stop shaking our fist at God and start asking what He is forming in us.

We also talk about what blocks alignment, especially unforgiveness. Unforgiveness does not stay contained, it grows roots that spread into other areas. Then we get practical: thoughts align with God’s truth, decisions with His wisdom, priorities with His purpose, and actions with His instructions. We close with journaling prompts that cut through excuses and help you name one step of obedience you can take today, plus a declaration to keep you grounded: “In obedience, I find clarity, direction, and alignment.”

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Transcript

Welcome And Opening Prayer

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Hello, hello, and welcome back, guys. Diamonds in the rough. I am so glad to be before you one more time. If you don't know who I am by now, I don't know where you've been. Hallelujah. Come on, somebody. To God be the glory. I always say it is such a blessing to be before you one more time. I am again formal introduction. I am Catherine. And if you don't, if this is your first time tuning in, I am so glad to have you. I uh pray that you are able to glean off of what it is that the Lord has given us on today. Uh, we are entering in to a brand new month. We are almost halfway through the year, isn't it crazy? Hallelujah! Look like it just came in, and now it is ready to go out one more time. But for now, we're gonna bask in what God has given us to uh jump into this month. So, our theme is going to be alignment and realignment, and the focus is gonna be obedience. And um, our anchor scripture is going to be Proverbs 16, verse 3. But before we go any further, y'all know what we gotta do. Let's pray. Father, thank you so much for your grace and your mercy. Thank you for every single diamond that is here. I pray in the name of Jesus, Lord, that each and every one of us get what we desire to have uh out of what you present. Father, I pray in the name of Jesus, you'll use me to your glory. Open up blinded eyes and uh and deaf ears that we might be able to see it and hear it. What it is we need to see. I pray in the name of Jesus, most of all, our heart is ready to receive it. I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. We turn it over to you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. One more time. I say amen, amen, and amen. Amen. Hallelujah. So today we're gonna be taking a look at what it really what exactly it is that obedience obedience is first. Yeah. I hope everybody is in agreement with me on today. So when we look at this word obedience, y'all know I got my notepad. I hope y'all got your notebook and your pen and you know, all of those things that you need to be able to make tedious notes. And if you're listening to this on the way home, make sure that you go back and re-listen it again and really dive into what

What Obedience Really Means

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thus says the Lord. Hallelujah! And so let us look at this word called obedience. You know, we hear it all the time and we attempt to practice it, but most of us really don't know what that word means. And so obedience is the act of willingly submitting your thoughts, decisions, actions, and desires to God's instructions, even when it's uncomfortable, inconvenient, or doesn't make complete sense at the moment. Hallelujah. Now, we're keeping it in in the in the in the spiritual space, and so therefore, you know, even in practical terms in regard to in this life, uh worldly things, whatever you want to call it, in the natural, like if you take the word God out, it still means the same thing. Hallelujah. It's something that we willingly do, you know, whether it's thoughts or decisions or actions, whatever have you, it is a process of us just genuinely saying, Yes, I'm gonna do this, you know, whether I'm comfortable or not, whether it's convenient or not, or even if it makes any sense, obedience, it truly is a choice. Hallelujah. So, with that being said, how does that lead us into our topics for the month? But today we're gonna focus in on this one, and the title or title of today's episode is gonna be called Why Alignment Comes After Pressure. Amen. And I wanted to quickly go over the scripture, call our anchor scripture that we'll read every week, and it comes out of Proverbs 16, verse 3. King James Version says, Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. I'm gonna say it again. Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. Amen. This verse it teaches us that when you entrust

Proverbs 16:3 And True Alignment

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your plans, actions, efforts to God, he brings stability, direction, clarity, and to your excuse me, I'm sorry, to your thinking, and it connects beautifully with our topic today, which is again why alignment comes after pressure. The thing that we must realize is that alignment is the result of consistent obedience. What does that mean? Like, think about it for a second, and I'm gonna read it again. What we must realize is that alignment is the result of constant obedience, meaning this is something that it doesn't stop. Hallelujah. You have to continually move based on not on comfort, not on, you know, fleshy feeling, but because you want to please the Lord, because you want to be in alignment with God, like it is a necessary thing, you know. We are, we really are on a highway, what I would call the highway of perfection. Hallelujah. It's it's always something, some kind of adjustment, you know, and typically it is what is what is not convenient, hallelujah. It doesn't make us very comfortable when we move in obedience, but what does he say? Obedience is better or greater than sacrifice. What we what it costs us to move in obedience. Look, at the end of the day, it's gonna be well worth it. Amen. Look, we have to get out of our way to get into his. I've said that, I feel like a thousand times. You heard what I'm saying? Like at the end of the day, in order to get to where he desires us to be, we have to do it his way. Hallelujah. We cannot do it without him. Amen. And and you know, when we look at this question of why alignment comes after pressure, like we've discussed what it looks like to be under pressure, under pressure. Uh look, it's pressure is just equivalent to trials and tribulations and and and and storms and all of those things that, again, they make us uncomfortable. But what do we say and what do we know that it's all working what? For our good. Romans 8, 28. It's working for our good. Something good will come out of it if you're looking through the right lens. Hallelujah. Some folks, unfortunately, they shake their fist at God and they stay stuck. Hallelujah. They walk around and they practice unforgiveness. Hallelujah. And they don't realize that when we walk when when you walk around practicing unforgiveness, then you allow that to take root in your heart. And roots produce roots. And what comes from unforgiveness? Jealousy, envy, adultery, idolatry, all of these things take root. And each root produces another root. And another root produces another root. And this is why when we look at the bottom of a tree, it seems like thousands upon thousands of roots that are happening underneath. Amen. Hallelujah. With a few major roots that again, these major roots have roots that root themselves off of those roots. And it just goes on and on and on and on. This is why you have to pull up, pull up a tree by its root in order for you to be able to stop its growth. As long as there's a root in the ground, it will continue to grow. Hallelujah. So, you know, thoughts must align with God's truth. Decisions must align with God's wisdom. Priorities must align with God's purpose. Actions must align with God's instructions. This is powerful. I, you know, I really encourage you to write this down when you get the opportunity. Because at the end of the day, like everything leads to something else. Amen. And God, He starts with the simplest thing in order to get us to the greater. Amen. This is why there's a verse in that in this book we're following that our latter would be better than our beginning. Amen. Look, it is not always, it doesn't always look good. It's not always packaged the way we want it. But you gotta know that what's inside of the of that bag of thoughts is God's truth. Amen. We get beauty for ashes. Hallelujah. God wants to take those things that cause all that kind of pressure, cause all of that difficulty, and he wants to take and allow those things to bring you into alignment with him. Amen. Because in him is the more.

Pressure And The Roots Of Unforgiveness

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Excuse the sound, y'all. That's my phone. I gotta put it on. Do not disturb, my bad. Hallelujah. Look, I challenge you to write in your journal. Hallelujah. It's so important that we have something to come back to. Write this down. God will start with obedience. No more negotiating on what God is telling you to do. Make a decision today. No more negotiating on what God has called and told you to do. Hallelujah. This is how God starts. He starts with obedience. Amen. When we make a decision, okay, we make the decision. Now you got to make a step. Hallelujah. Amen. In our in my business, in my travel business, look, you made a decision in it. We say you made a decision to start your business. Now you got to make a decision to win. Hallelujah. Now you made a decision to be obedient. Now you got to stop negotiating. Stop making excuses and just do whatever it is that the Lord has prompted you to do. Hallelujah. I hope all of this makes sense. I'm going to move on. Sorry for the noise. I'm turning my page. Hallelujah. So let me give you another thought. Without obedience, alignment cannot be produced. Without obedience, alignment cannot be produced. Why? Because I look, I want to share with you the why. It does do. Wait a minute. Y'all, y'all know I'm writing notes and I'm messing up my own writing. Let me let me try this again. I want to share with you what obedience produces. Just a little bit deeper. There we go. Here you go. I got three reasons. Number one. Number one, it puts us on the right track. I want you in your own time to check out Proverbs 3, verses 5 through 6. In particular, verse 6. But I can, I can just say it is trust in the Lord with all of your heart. Lean not onto your own understanding. But in all of your ways, acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path or steps, some versions, depending upon the version. Look, he puts us on the right track. But what does it require based on that verse? It requires us trusting the steps that he put before us. Hallelujah. It requires us trusting what trusting in him past what we can understand. He said, Look, we we understand a lot of things, but he said, Don't lean on that. Hallelujah. Don't lean on that. This requires obedience. Do not lean on what you can understand. Hallelujah. But lean on and trust on him. He says, as you go forth, acknowledge him. And when we just acknowledge him, he said, I'm gonna show you what you need to do next, where you need to go next. Hallelujah. I hope somebody can receive that on today. Amen. Number two, we will be sensitive to the spirit. This is why obedience is important. Again, we will be sensitive to the spirit, we will be able to hear his voice clearer and follow his leading better. Who doesn't want that? At the end of the day, you want to make sure that you are following the steps that are before you. Amen. You want to be able to hear and not not sit back wondering and questioning what you heard, whether it was God or not, because I can promise you the enemy will come in and try to distort the truth of God. This is why you have to be able to be able to discern his voice. He says, My sheep know my voice. Hallelujah. The enemy is gonna come in there and try to distort it and try to confuse you. Hallelujah. Because what is the opposite of chaos? It is peace. Hallelujah. And when we are in alignment, again, this is what obedience produces. When we are in alignment, then you can hear him when he speaks to you. He said, My sheep know my voice. Amen. I'm pausing intentionally. When you can hear him clearer, you can follow him better. Amen. Because he's gonna tell you what needs to be done. Why do I hear my phone, y'all? The devil is a liar. I don't know why I hear my phone right now. Oh mama. My mom. I'm pausing here for a second. I thought I'd put it on do not disturb. I guess I did not. Okay. Now, number three. Because of it, talking about obedience, revelation brings you into your God, breathe, breathe

What Obedience Produces In You

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the purpose. Because of it, talking about obedience, the revelation brings you into your God, breathe, purpose. So obedience will take you into the plan of God for your life. Hallelujah. But you have got to get into alignment with Him. Amen. It is not gonna be sugar and spice. Hallelujah. Look, you gotta know that the pressure is a part of the process. Amen. And that God is in the perfecting business. Hallelujah. He wants you to understand that you are here for a reason. You're not just here, you know, existing. You shouldn't be, you shouldn't feel like you're just existing. You should be feeling like and and look and and knowing that there is something you're supposed to do while you're here. Hallelujah. So with those three right there, I hope that that makes you think a little bit. Hallelujah. What are your thoughts? Write them down. Amen. Obedience brings you the opportunity to tap into results, positioning, harmony, and outcomes to the process. Hallelujah. It brings you into the opportunity to tap in. You get to tap into the results, get to tap into where you are, you get to tap in to be in unison with the spirit. You get to tap in to really be able to see what you've been through that brought forth the outcome. Hallelujah. We can appreciate our process. But every time we come through something, we kind of turn around and look like, wow, God brought me through this. Wow, God brought me through that. And it's it's powerful. Hallelujah. It is a powerful, powerful blessing. We are coming down to the last few minutes of the show, and I want to leave you with a few questions that I think are worth answering in your journal between you and the Lord. So I'm gonna read these questions. And you know, again, if you're writing, make sure you check it out later on. But the first question where am I resisting an instruction I already know God has given me? Where am I resisting an instruction I already know God has given me? Number two, am I waiting for confirmation when God is waiting for obedience? Am I waiting for confirmation when God is waiting for obedience? Now this is real. This is real. Like, I want you to be very honest with yourself. Like at the end of the day, if you're not honest with you with yourself, you can you can't get to your breakthrough. Hallelujah. You can try to pretend like you got it all together. But are you, do you really? I'm gonna repeat it again, one more time. Am I waiting for confirmation when God is waiting for obedience? Number three, what area of my life feels out of alignment because I've delayed action? What area of my life feels out of alignment because I've delayed action? And you know, it it's okay if you write down these questions and give yourself some time to think about the answer. Because the answer might not come immediately, you might have to meditate over and think about it throughout your day to see, like, and let and let God reveal it to you. Hallelujah. You because we can ask ourselves a question and wait on God to give us an answer. Because we can stand on God's answer to be true, hallelujah. Amen. And here's another thing. Look, when God reveals something to you, He will confirm it. He will confirm, He will confirm whatever He reveals. Hallelujah. Look at number four, he says, What is one step of obedience I can take today? What is one step of obedience I can take today? I'm gonna run through all the questions one more again. Hallelujah. Where am I resisting an instruction I already know God has given me? That was number one. Am I waiting for confirmation when God is waiting for obedience? Number two. Number three, what area of my life feels out of alignment because I've delayed action? Number four, what is one step of obedience I can take today? Again, I say very personal between you and the Lord. Something you write down and you be humble about it. Hallelujah. Amen. I'm telling you, it's a start to a new day. Hallelujah. Amen. I'm gonna pray, but I want you to put in your mind this declaration. In obedience, I find clarity, direction, and alignment. Hallelujah. Write that down. My declaration today. In obedience, I find clarity, direction, and alignment. Hallelujah. Let's pray. Father, thank you again for another day. Thank you, God, for each and every heart that you brought here. Pray God that this was a blessing to them. I pray God you will continue to lead God and order their steps in the way that you desire for them to go. I don't exclude myself from this, God. Lead us all

Journal Questions Declaration And Closing

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and guide us in the way that you have us to go. I thank you, God, for your grace and your mercy. Thank you, God, for um bringing us together one more week that you've allowed me to be able to pour out what you poured in. I pray in the name of Jesus, God, that your blessings will just be with your children, God. I pray in the name of Jesus, God, that um that each person who hears this will choose obedience over sacrifice. Hallelujah. I pray that we will commit our works unto you, that you would establish our steps. God, we thank you again for this blessed word. Thank you, God, for giving us the ability to be able to move in obedience, God. Thank you, God, for um speaking to our everyday thoughts, God. Pray, God, that this personal um journey of refinement, God, that each and every one that you have drawn to be a part of it is again being refined to your glory. Exposing the enemy that genuine change can happen for you. God, we thank you again. We love you and we pray it. We ask it in the mighty and precious name of Jesus Christ. We do pray. Amen, amen, and amen. Hallelujah. To God be the glory. Again, make sure you're declaring in obedience. I find clarity, direction, and alignment. Hallelujah. Amen and amen. So I hope y'all will come on back with me next week as we are going to be talking about um realignment is not regression. Realignment is not regression. That is next week's episode. I am excited about it. Yes, I am. And I hope that you are too. Tell somebody else about the podcast. Yes, and let them know that you know we just love Jesus and we are allowing Jesus to pour out what he wants to pour in. Hallelujah. So again, y'all be blessed. And I always say, well, Michael always says, and remember, you are a diamond in the rough. Blessings and love from me to you. We'll see you next week. Amen. Amen.