May 19, 2022 Intentional Living

Dear beloved,

I've got a question for you!  Do you agree that, "our intention creates our reality?"  Read it again before you answer.  Hold that thought while we watch John Maxwell talk about intentions and we will reflect upon the subject after the video: Good Intentions Aren't Enough To Make A Difference

Reflection:

• What is your answer to my opening question?  Do you agree that "our intention creates our reality"?
• Simply put, intentional living means to live on purpose or live deliberately with an aim in mind.  It is not random or reckless living.  Even when you rest and do nothing, it is deliberate.  As some people say, know your why, and you will live with little regret.  Let's examine three areas of intentional living.

1. Be intentional about your walk with God (Proverbs 3:5-8)

• Your relationship with God is truly your most important priority in this life.  It is the foundation on which you build everything else.
• When God is in charge, and Jesus is Lord, all other priorities fall into place, and seemingly tough decisions become simple.
• 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
  6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
  7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
  8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

2. Be intentional about your finances (Matthew 6:19-21)

• Whether or not you believe you are wealthy is irrelevant.  If you live in the U.S., you are among the 10% richest in the world.  And if you know Christ, you are blessed beyond measure.
• God is generous with us so that we can be generous with others.
• Time is money.  Willingness to spend time and money toward kingdom goals will result in greater blessings than if you were to invest your time and money in worldly endeavors.
• 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
  20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
  21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

3. Be intentional with your relationships (Hebrews 10:24-25)

• We must actively pursue two types of relationships: relationships that contribute to our growth in love for God and love for people, and relationships to whom we can contribute, both to believers and non-believers.  That's not to say that fun can't be a part of it.  In fact, fun should be a huge part of how we encourage others!
• 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
  25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

4. We sometimes struggle to live intentionally because of three common reasons:

• We don't know who we are; or whose we are (John 1:12)
• 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
  
  
• We are lukewarm in our faith or are double-minded (James 1:8)
• 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
• We are running away from God (Jonah 1:3)
• 3 However, Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the Lord's presence. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish, from the Lord's presence.

Takeway:

David Nurse was an NBA life optimization coach.  I once heard him in a podcast saying, "I don't have a job, I don't have a career, but I have a mission."  It caught my attention because I am sort of like him!  He inspired me to live intentionally. Since then I crafted my own mission statement: My life mission is to build a resilient community through faith in Jesus Christ. A resilient community remains strong and undefeatable despite circumstances.  A resilient community is connected through prayer, love, grace, kindness, understanding, giving, and receiving.

There are many other areas in life to live intentionally, including time, family, physical health, mental wellness and personal growth.  Living intentionally may feel like hunting for unicorns, but it doesn't have to be that way.  I believe that your life's purpose will become clear as you begin to live God's way!