The Intentional Life

Have you ever told a friend the famous line of  "we need to get together sometime"?  To then realize weeks later that you never have?  Or that you would pray for them and hope that you'd remember?  Or have intentions to call that person who lost a loved one just months ago just to see how they 're doing, but put it off because it just didn't work into the schedule that day?  I guess what I'm getting at is we are all full of intentions.  Intentions to help, pray, fellowship or just to do good.  The definition of 'intention' from Webster's is:

n. A plan of action; purpose, either immediate or ultimate. 

 I'm realizing that I always have intentions to do this or that, but what I now see is what is missing: A plan of action.  I want to purposefully fill my intention.  But first I have to have a plan.  I have to have action.   Do you notice the word act in that word?   One has to act out the intention.  Webster defines plan:

v. To have in mind as an intention or purpose.  n.  A scheme or method for achieving something.

Well, I'd have to say that I tend to have a lot of schemes but maybe not methods.  I've always defined schemes as a negative thing.  Someone who was up to no good.  A schemer.  But am I a schemer for having in mind an intention or purpose, but not following through?  Hmmm.

 A person has to...remember this from last year?....deliberately determine to form a resolution with courage that is a firm decision of a course of action.  (you really have to read that slow) This has been lurking around for over a year in my heart and I still haven't got it.  I posted this over a year ago.  Intentions have to be deliberate.  You have to purposely pursue that intention with a plan.  I'm not saying you should plan your everything, for being spontaneous is sometimes needed to fulfill a purpose.  But if one truly means what they say, you need to deliberately, intentionally follow through.  We get busy, we forget for we have hundreds of other things on our minds.  But do you think that this is how God intended life to be like?  Too busy to keep our word?  Or to spend time with that friend who really needs a encouraging friend?  Are you walking the walk or just talking the talk?  Webster again defines deliberate:

v.  To say or do something intentionally; to plan in advance.

There is that word again.  Plan.  I've never been a planner.  I tend to 'fly by the seat of my pants' per say.  Being spontaneous is my way of life.   If it floats my way then it must have been meant to be.  I've never been a go getter, a person of purposeful intention for something.  I think it's why it's been so hard to pursue my faith.  You actually have to put effort into it.  You have to deliberately seek the Lord.  Knowledge doesn't just come to you...or float your way....you have to purposely seek it and obtain it.  I hope that I can intentionally live my life for Christ by deliberately seeking Him.   I'm planning time every morning to seek him (but not beat myself up if it doesn't happen) and I'm going to intentionally spend time in the Word.  I'm going to deliberately be a friend to someone who needs a friend.  I'm going to stop saying and start doing by purposely fulfilling my intentions. I've kept myself sooo busy, that one day just bleeds into another. I don't realize how much time has gone by sometimes. I want to define my days so I can tell them apart. I want to seek purpose for each day.  Not just wait for it to 'float by'. 

This is going to take a lot of effort and energy, but is it not worth it? 

Proverb 16:25 NIV  "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."

I don't want to get caught up in what seems right to me.  I want to know what is right by seeking God and having Him show me through his Word.  It's a purposeful choice that one has to intentionally choose.

What is your choice?