One great overarching lesson I have learned over the past year is the importance of being intentional. Before, I had so many tools for the kingdom that I was not using. Americans seem to think that if God wants them to act, he will literally tape a sign to their forehead. We are so complacent in our faith. We may read some Scripture, attend church, sing some songs, and thank God for meals, but living for the glory of God involves so much more. We can't wait for God to place everything right in front of us in order to react in a way that is pleasing to feel good about ourselves. Christians are called to action. We are called to take risks and live by faith, a life with security ultimately found in Christ instead of earthly things.
Throughout Scripture, we see a God of intention. Everything He does, every detail, has purpose and aim for ultimate good. The whole theme of the Bible is salvation, which is a result of God intentionally loving us. We see Jesus also following this same pattern. From the beginning of His ministry, He directly picks twelve men to pour His life into so that they would one day take the gospel to the nations. Being intentional is so vital and the more we get to know our Lord, the more we should realize He is a God of intention.
First and foremost, prayer and time in the Word should be intentional. Our quiet times should be daily communication with our Father for the purpose of deepening a relationship. Without this, nothing else we do can bear fruit for His glory. We have to be filled and energized by His peace, grace, and truth before we can go out to love others. We have to know Him so we can know His will in order to accomplish it.Secondly, loving others should be intentional. Each type of relationship should have a clear purpose and that purpose should be met because each person is actively working to fill their role. For example, community, on which a beautiful post was written here, is intended to build up the church. Jesus calls us brothers and sisters for a reason (intention ;D). We are to love each other, push each other, and be real with each other in order to learn how to love God and people better. We are to be intentional in discipling others, in spending time with those who can disciple us, in romantic relationships, with family, and also with nonbelievers. We must also be prayerful in all these relationships in order to know what our intention should be so that we do not have fruitless relationships, which will only drain us and distract us from our ultimate purpose.
Being intentional with our thoughts, words, and deeds shows the world that we take life seriously. We are living it to the fullest by submitting everything to Jesus because we love Him and because He knows what's best for us. Being unintentional leaves room for confusion, disappointment, and wasted time and energy. It tells others that they are not important enough for you to carefully think and plan about in order to treat in a way that is pleasing and loving.
