Are you stuck or have you ever felt stuck? Stuck in a relationship? Stuck in a career or job? Stuck in your finances? We’ve probably all been there at one time or another. Today, Amy Joob shares how getting into the right alignment will get you unstuck.
On a recent episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, Amy and I chatted about how to get unstuck and move into the season God has for you. If you missed that episode, you can listen here (How To Get Unstuck in Life and Move Forward – Episode 130.)
Read all the way to the end for a book giveaway!
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Are You Stuck? Right Alignment Will Get You Unstuck!
By Amy Joob
A key to getting unstuck is to get into the right alignment. This is a process and may not be easy at the beginning, but it is so worth it in the end!
If you are spending a majority of your time thinking toxic thoughts and hanging out with negative people, chances are, you will stay stuck in your current circumstances. To get into the right alignment, you need to first change your inner dialogue. “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV).
Often times, fear of the unknown, insecurity, past hurts and the lies we have believed about ourselves hold us back from moving to the next level of our destiny. It’s important to learn to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV). This means we make sure every thought is true, pure, loving, peaceful, right and lines up with the Word of God.
1. One method that works from me, I learned from reading Norman Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking, years ago. If I notice I am caught up in a negative thought pattern, I say “Stop” out loud. This will get me to stop the mental gymnastics and downward spiral. Then I speak out loud, saying the opposite of the negative thought. I often couple it with a Bible verse and declare God’s promise over my life or situation. This in turn begins to re-establish healthy thoughts and helps to reprogram negative thinking. As you and I begin to think differently, we will begin to believe differently and then we will act differently and step into a new direction.
2. A second way to get into the right alignment is to watch who and what is influencing you. Where do you spend most of your time? Are you watching the news, constantly scrolling through social media, or hanging out with friends who are in a negative space? As you begin to notice and take inventory of what you are allowing into your eyes, mind, heart and spirit, you may realize these things do not line up with God’s best for your life. These things or relationships may be filling you with fear, worry, anxiety, negativity, hopelessness and doubt.
If you recognize something is not healthy and not God’s best for your life, be willing to let it go. Be open to change. Look at the flowers blooming through the fence. They didn’t let a number of dry, stiff boards hold them back, they broke through to the other side and they are flourishing! Maybe other flowers will follow their lead. I think it’s important to make changes and do what God is leading you to do, even if you don’t see many others around you doing it. Keep praying for the right alignment and as you step into the new, He will be faithful to bring you the right tribe!
3. I often pray that God would help me let go and surrender every area of my life to him. I lay it all down and ask Him to bring the right alignment, people and places onto my path. He says, “All things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial” (I Corinthians 10:23 CSB). So even though as Christians we have the freedom of choice, the choices we are making now may no longer be the best choices for us. If you are willing to surrender your habits, friendships and choices to God, He will let you know what is best for you.
4. Pray that He brings right alignment in all areas of your life. Say this prayer with me, “Lord, help my thoughts to line up with your thoughts and let the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Bring right alignment and right people into all areas of my life. Lord give me courage to follow where you lead and be glorified through me.”
Be encouraged as you get into right alignment and move forward on the path of your destiny. God has plans to prosper you, to give you a future and a hope!
What has helped you get unstuck in the past? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
About Amy Joob:
Amy is a motivational speaker and an award winning author of Model Behavior: Make Your Career Path Your Calling (Redemption Press, 2019). Amy and her family are passionate about advocacy and she is the host of Support Someone Saturday, a podcast that highlights charities, ministries and non-profits across Chicago and the US. Amy and Eric live in the Chicago suburbs, have been married for over 20 years and are parents to Arianna and Asthton. Amy’s new 40-Day Prayer Journal, Unstuck: Step Into the New released on September 22, 2021. She hopes her family’s story will inspire you to get unstuck and move into the new season God has for you!
Stay connected with Amy Joob: Website / Facebook / Instagram / LinkedIn
Book Giveaway!
In conjunction with this post and the podcast interview, How To Get Unstuck in Life and Move Forward – Episode 130, Amy Joob is giving away a free copy of her book, Messy Journey: How Grace and Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home.
Leave a comment below sharing with us one thing you’ve learned about getting unstuck by using right alignment and you will be entered into the contest for your chance to win a copy of her book.
You could also share this blog post on Facebook or Twitter then comment here to tell us where you shared it and you’ll also be entered into the drawing.
The winner will be selected at random and announced next Monday, October 18, 2021. Continental United States only.
Saying stop out load to stop the negative thoughts.
It does really help Harold. 🙂 Sometimes we are stuck in a cycle in our head & saying “Stop!” out loud disrupts the negative pattern. Thanks for sharing!
Prayed that prayer with you. I believe the things we let influence us are causing astronomical problems for us. Especially me!
I hear you! I’ve had to work hard these past 18 months to really guard my heart and mind. I’m trying to fill my time, space & thoughts with positive, Christian material & influences!
One think I have found to help is playing music that has the message of Gods truth in it. Sometimes all I can think of is to play praise and worship. The words of the song and the truths can speak to my heart and lift me up.
I am right there with you Cathy! I play a lot of worship music throughout the day & put the Alexa (Echo) on K-Love radio too! 😁
Thank you for sharing this post on how to get unstuck. A few things stood out to me. First, simply saying out loud “Stop,” is a helpful suggestion. Also. Check who and what I’m listening to. Negative in=negative out. I appreciate these helpful hints very much.
You are welcome Dawn! Yes, it’s been a daily choice for me to keep renewing my mind & staying positive. I’m guarding my heart, mind & life from negative influences & working on doing that for my family too.❤️
Thank you Amy for sharing with us. Boy have I been there. Seeking God in my everyday has been my solace. Wonderful message today. Blessings.
Thanks so much for your reply Paula! Yes, I too have been making it a daily practice to fill myself up with God through prayer & His word. He is truly giving us the grace to walk through this season!❤️
I love this message. I’m trying to think when I have been stuck. I think years ago when my children were home and we were very involved in our church, I got stuck in some ministry work that I sensed was not where Father wanted me but I was so committed to it. It wasn’t a bad thing, just not where I needed to be, we needed to be for Father had more for us. Well, something happened that forced us out of that role and when we walked out of the meeting, we felt freed and Father told us where He wanted us to go. It was a totally different alignment. We went from working with Senior Adults to working with Single Adults. The work fit like a hand in a glove and was for ‘such a time as this’ in our lives and that of others. That was just one situation where we saw proper alignment was critical. Over the years the Lord has taught us to step away from unhealthy relationships/toxic ones and step into His plans. I will share this wonderful very insightful message on FB. Thank you Amy and Dr. Michelle for this blog.
Thank you for sharing your story Karen! God is so good & so faithful. I love how you knew he was leading you a new direction & suddenly the shift came & you felt so blessed! ☺️He has been freeing our family of toxic relationships over the past couple of years too. Thankful for the new direction & doors He is bringing. Blessings to you!
I found that I was “stuck” in a toxic relationship where my faith and my lifestyle was ridiculed and no respect for my values daily were berated. Finally I had to leave for a “sabbatical” of sorts. I am now nesting in a small studio apt. that fits me well and gives me comfort and peace. I know the Lord approves and has given me this space to be healed and find rest for my spirit. Your article articulated the way we need to be released from negativity and toxicity in relationships. God knows our heart’s desires and will act on our behalf as we trust Him and obey His leading.
So happy to hear you have been freed from toxic relationships! God is so good, I’m glad He lead you to a peaceful place – emotionally, spiritually & physically. It’s wonderful you had the courage to take steps in a new direction. Blessings to you!
Hello to all here, my request to Amy since she has been thru this negative thoughts trail is if she could print the old negative thoughts and the ones which she replaced them with from the Bible. i would find that very helpful as there are times i get confused as to which verse i need as a weapon at that moment..is this possible?
Hi Helen, I hear you about needing a list of positive thoughts & scripture verses. In my new prayer journal Unstuck: Step into the New I put an appendix in the back…it has positive affirmations about your identity in Christ & scriptures to go with it. It also contains promises He has given us as His children. (My book is available on Amazon).
For example, a thought could be “this medical condition is going to ruin my life & keep me sidelined forever.” You can replace it with, “God is going to show me the way to overcome this condition & live the best life possible. This medical condition is not a setback but a set up for something amazing in my future.”
I am an over comer! “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” I John 5:4
Blessings to you! ❤️
This is the second time today I have seen it mentioned to watch who and what is influencing you. It affects us more than we sometimes realize. Such a good message and post!
Thanks for your feedback Joanne! It seems like God is letting us know we need to guard our hearts & minds in this season. Thanks for sharing.❤️
Great words of encouragement—thanks so much for sharing! Stopping by from #tuneinthursday
You are welcome Laura, thanks for stopping by! Many blessings to you!💝
Look forwrd not in the rear view mirror. Focus on tomorrow and not the past.
So true Jim! I agree, we need to forgot about the past & push forward into the promises & purposes He has for our lives!🤩