In a previous blog post called “Four Habits to Awaken Your Spiritual Journey” we looked at Ephesians 5:15-17 to identify four habits that would awaken us from spiritual sleep. I recommend revisiting that blog post if you do not recall it, before reading on. Eph 5:15-17 (AMP) tells us:
“Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people], making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish and thoughtless, but understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is.” (Emphasis mine)
Paul was concerned about believers who had fallen asleep, calling us to be careful (or circumspect) about how we are living our lives, practicing wisdom in how we use our time and making sure that we know what the will of God is. But most importantly, being filled by the Holy Spirit so that we do not run our race on empty. In short, he is calling us to
Be Intentional
Defining intentional living is to live in such a way that your thoughts, beliefs, desires and hopes are being directed towards living in the way God desires, i.e. according to His will. It is intentional actions taken to avoid a state of drifting through life.
When one is drifting on a river, or at sea, it may seem like a pleasurable experience. The problem with drifting though, is that when you do awaken to take bearing on the shore, you may find that you are far off course, have lost time and are not where you wanted to be.
In Scripture, believers are told to:
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“Live wisely among those who are not believers and make the most of every opportunity.” (Col 4:5)
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“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…” (Eph 3:23)
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“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”. (Romans 12:2)
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“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last for ever. Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (1 Cor 9:24-27)
Believers are called to living with intention.
Drifting often goes unnoticed at first, usually when our eyes are taken off what we are doing with our time and resources. Add to this, those distractions and temptations, and what was initially a moment of drifting, becomes a habit of drifting, an indifference to the flow of time. Slowly the beacons that used to keep us on course are not noticed anymore.
In the book, “Intentional Living: Choosing a Life That Matters” John Maxwell writes:
“If I wanted to make a difference… Wishing for things to change wouldn’t make them change. Hoping for improvements wouldn’t bring them. Dreaming wouldn’t provide all the answers I needed. Vision wouldn’t be enough to bring transformation to me or others. Only by managing my thinking and shifting my thoughts from desire to deeds would I be able to bring about positive change. I needed to go from wanting to doing.”
You and I have to decide to bring some intentionality into how we are living our lives. But how to start being intentional when you have never tried to be before? The process of bringing about intentionality is:
- Identify your thinking: what is your attitude to reflecting upon your life? Are you someone who believes in regularly reflecting on their life and developing new directions?
- Shift your thinking: Are your thoughts, actions, words and attitudes in line with scripture, or even God’s desire for your life. What is it that you are wanting? When last did you make a list of 5 things that need to change in your life? Not hope or wish to change but NEED to change?
- Translate it into corrective action. Move from wanting to change those things, to doing the change. Has the shift in thinking translated into action written down as goals, plans and directions for your life. Is there a plan for a new habit; a vision for a new direction; a goal for a certain area of your life. Are you choosing to translate your desires into deeds that bring about change in your life?
- Stay the course, intentionality is a habit, not an impulse, it is a way of life. Each day reflect on what you intended and translate it into action.
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:12-14 ESV)
Being intentional covers our day-to-day walk, our conversation, our obedience to the Lord, the use of our time, the relationships we engage in, the actions, choices we make, and the focus of our lives where we keep our eyes on Jesus. All of it requires that we be intentional in the actions we take in those areas.
What is your intentional life looking like?
Lord help me to wake up, not to drift through life. Help me to pay attention to how I am living and to evaluate it according to your Word. Forgive me for living without thought to my actions, words and intentions. Help me to be intentional in my relationship with You as well as how I show up every day. Intentional about how I use my time, resources and the relationships I build. Help me to take pen to paper and do the evaluation so that I may be circumspect about my life, being careful to live according to your will and living wisely in this time and season, I have available to me. I confess that I no longer drift along in life, but that I live intentionally as a habit of my life.
Four Habits to Awaken Your Spiritual Life
How to Position Yourself to Hear from God
Lord help me to be in the direction and not drift away from you. Blessings🙏