Intentional Living

So much of life is not planned. We get up and just allow things to happen, and then we react to the situation.  Sometimes they happen because we did not intend to avoid them. I remember when our boys were young, and something would happen to them because of their actions, or the lack of their actions. Their first response was “Daddy I didn’t mean to,” his response, “but you didn’t mean not to.” At first, we had to explain what that meant, but as they got older they learned to apply wisdom and think. We all have moments where we don’t think ahead of what could happen if we do certain things. Thinking the worst will never happen, or that we can do things and not get the negative results others get, is a mark of immaturity. Real maturity thinks, it sees the possibilities that could go wrong and seeks to eliminate choices that are not best.

In Ephesians 5:15, we are told to walk intentionally, paying attention to everything. We are not to be like the ostrich who buries her head in the sand. The notion is that the supposedly dumb ostrich believes that if it can’t see its attacker then the attacker can’t see it. As Christians, we are to be aware of the enemy around us. The word circumspectly means “diligently,” and the idea here is, that we are to make special efforts to live as we should intentionally and guard against the temptations around us.

Ephesians 5:15 “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,”

The implication here is that if you don’t pay attention and live intentionally you are a fool! The reality of this statement is that we are to be wise! We are to live as children of the King using every resource He makes available to us. We are not to live as those indulging in foolish pleasures and desires, never thinking about the consequences.

Living intentionally to make every minute count for Christ will change your whole perspective on life. Your rest will be sweeter because your mind will be clearer. Your stress will be lower because you are using the wisdom of God to make decisions and think before you act. You are leaving the results to Him.

Make today a day with intentions, thought through, and planned out. Plan your time of Bible study, a time of prayer, and a time to witness to someone. It may be through a text, a phone call, or an old-fashioned note. The things we don’t plan rarely get done or they are done poorly.  If you can’t fulfill them, you can reevaluate where you were sidetracked, and start over tomorrow. When you see your failure, seek wisdom to avoid it the next time. Doing the same thing, in the same way, will get the same result. Don’t go through life just letting it happen, live with intentions that honor the King, and seek His help to follow through!

 

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One Response to Intentional Living

  1. Ron Franks says:

    Excellent

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