Last month, I heard and saw Travis Greene perform the song "Intentional" at the Celebration of Gospel. It was incredible! With that being the first time I had heard the song it had me on an all time high (play the video on the left to watch) and made me think about the meaning behind God being intentional. Tons of thoughts raced through my mind: how God intentionally sacrificed so much for me (John 3:16 NIV), how God intentionally walks with me (Genesis 28:15 NIV), how God intentionally strengthens me (Isaiah 40:29 NIV), how God uses His word to intentionally direct me (Psalm 119:105 NIV), etc.
The more I thought about God being intentional, the more I began to think about how we should be more intentional. We should be intentional through our walk with God, we should be intentional through our daily actions, we should be intentional with the words that we speak, we should be intentional with our thought process, we should be intentional about the surroundings that we place ourselves in, we should be intentional about the people that we place ourselves around and we should ultimately want our heart’s intentions to be pure.
There is a woman at my church who used to say impolite comments to me whenever I would have to pass over her in the pew to get to my seat. Her comments used to make me feel very uncomfortable although I never mentioned anything to her and would simply smile and just keep passing by. One day, I decided to begin intentionally giving her hugs and speaking to her making friendly conversation every time I saw her. I understood the power of love and although I had no idea why this woman was impolite, I was convinced that by me showing her love, it would cover her impolite ways (1 Peter 4:8 NIV). Since the day I began hugging and speaking to the woman, she has never said another impolite comment to me when I pass her, in fact, she stopped me in church one week to let me know that she missed me at service and she greeted me with a big hug.
This month I believe that God wanted me to write about intentions so that we can get in the habit of being more deliberate about the things we do throughout the year. God is intentional, and if God is intentional we have a responsibility to be intentional as well. In 1 John 2:6 AMP we are reminded that “whoever says he lives in Christ [that is, whoever says he has accepted Him as God and Savior] ought [as a moral obligation] to walk and conduct himself just as He walked and conducted Himself”.
I challenge everyone reading this blog to be more intentional in all that you do throughout 2016. Intentionally wake up and give God praise every morning because you are simply grateful that He decided to place breath within you another day. Intentionally read and reflect on God’s word. Intentionally say a compliment to someone just because you know there is a possibility that it could make their day better. Intentionally “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31 NIV). Intentionally go places that will be beneficial to your growth during your walk with God. Intentionally surround yourself with people who will uplift you. Intentionally act as a change agent that God placed in the world (be a blessing).
God wants us to all ‘Give careful thought to our ways’ (Haggai 1:5 & 7 NIV) and by being intentional, we are doing just that. When we begin to function with pure intentions becoming more purposeful about everything that we do, God has the power to miraculously work on our behalf in ways beyond our imaginations.
I challenge everyone reading this blog to be more intentional in all that you do throughout 2016. Intentionally wake up and give God praise every morning because you are simply grateful that He decided to place breath within you another day. Intentionally read and reflect on God’s word. Intentionally say a compliment to someone just because you know there is a possibility that it could make their day better. Intentionally “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31 NIV). Intentionally go places that will be beneficial to your growth during your walk with God. Intentionally surround yourself with people who will uplift you. Intentionally act as a change agent that God placed in the world (be a blessing).
God wants us to all ‘Give careful thought to our ways’ (Haggai 1:5 & 7 NIV) and by being intentional, we are doing just that. When we begin to function with pure intentions becoming more purposeful about everything that we do, God has the power to miraculously work on our behalf in ways beyond our imaginations.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We come before you with a thankful spirit letting you know that we give you all the praise. Thank you for intentionally creating us. Thank you for intentionally sacrificing for us. Thank you for intentionally constructing a plan for us. Thank you for intentionally loving us. Thank you for intentionally protecting us. Thank you for intentionally providing for us. Thank you for intentionally choosing us.
We pray that throughout this year you provide us with the keen ability to be more consciously aware of our intentions behind everything that we do. Bless us with pure intentions Lord. Let our motives in everything always aim to be pleasing in your eyes. Govern our daily actions, words, thought process, surroundings and our hearts. We are forever your handiwork God, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which you prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10 NIV); let us be reminded of this daily. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Heavenly Father,
We come before you with a thankful spirit letting you know that we give you all the praise. Thank you for intentionally creating us. Thank you for intentionally sacrificing for us. Thank you for intentionally constructing a plan for us. Thank you for intentionally loving us. Thank you for intentionally protecting us. Thank you for intentionally providing for us. Thank you for intentionally choosing us.
We pray that throughout this year you provide us with the keen ability to be more consciously aware of our intentions behind everything that we do. Bless us with pure intentions Lord. Let our motives in everything always aim to be pleasing in your eyes. Govern our daily actions, words, thought process, surroundings and our hearts. We are forever your handiwork God, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which you prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10 NIV); let us be reminded of this daily. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.