Living With Intentionality!

Let us welcome in the year 2022! With this welcoming comes many thoughts of what will we do differently than we did last year. Some will make the infamous resolutions, and others will continue with the same patterns as before. As for me, I am pressing forward and leaning into what God has for me. I don’t want to be blindsided or spooked. I want to be prepared and ready to accept what He has for me.

When we reflect on 2021, do we think of all of the negative things that have happened? Do we commiserate over CDC’s protocols for COVID? Are we losing rest over political agendas? Do we support propaganda that spews through social media and news media? Are we passing judgment on mask wearers and non-mask wearers? Have we unleashed a critical and gluttonous spirit in the world of education? Did we allow materialism to overtake humanitarianism? I am here to say to you that if these are your thoughts, we are a society in trouble. As we move forward, we should reflect on what did we do that brought glory to the Lord? Let me say this again, what did we do in the past year, in the past season, that glorified God? What are we going to do in the new year that honors Him? What gifts or hobbies have been given to you to use in bringing His people into the kingdom? That is a great deal to think about.

There is nothing that I love more than talking to my friends about faith, about life, and about goals. My friends have no idea how much they encourage me and give me perspectives to write about in this blog. I recently had a conversation with one of my friends who pointed out that I had quite a few hobbies. I never looked at them as hobbies; these are areas that may have piqued my interest a little. By the end of the conversation, it struck me that I actually had hobbies. For instance, a good book (reading) with substance makes me think and ultimately leads me to write (a blog). Because of the time that I spend outside in parks or on weekend getaways, I enjoy taking pictures (photography) and sharing them. On a peaceful evening, I enjoy strumming my guitar. When I think about these hobbies, I have to ask myself, how am I using them?

In surveying my hobbies, I also surveyed my relationships. How many times have you run into old friends and both of you promise to contact the other for dinner and it never happens? Hence, busyness. There may be times when you think of someone and feel that you should reach out, and the thought never crosses your mind again.  Hence,, misplaced priorities. A misunderstanding leads to no communication and eventually a lost relationship. Hmmm, perhaps pride. What about the relationship you keep because you feel sorry for the person? Do you ever think about the friendships that you don’t nurture because you’re too busy with work, church, family, or other friends? I was recently invited to a surprise birthday party for a friend that I had not seen in years. We made the dinner promises, but life seemed to get in the way. We made these promises when she and her husband had their first child. We have come together again after three children later and the first child is a senior in high school. What struck me is that we live five miles apart in the same houses from many years ago. Hebrews 10:24-25 states “So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.” Now, I don’t make resolutions, but I did set one major goal for myself, and I would like to challenge you also. Live with intentionality!

So, what does it mean to live with intentionality?  It means to have the power of mind to represent, stand for, to follow through, and to make a reality. It is about asking yourself the questions, what do I want to achieve and how do I want to contribute to this world or to building the kingdom? How do I align my purpose and energy to execute my goal? It is so easy to get into a flow that distracts you from the more important people and situations in life. For me, living with intentionality means making a concerted effort to nurture relationships with the people that are important to me. Intentionality means following through and not giving lip service. It is crucial that I not take advantage but make sure and appreciate the kindnesses that has been given to me. In return, I need to step out of my comfort zone and extend myself to witnessing, praying, and helping others.

As I sit here looking over the beauty of God’s creation, I think about the good, the bad,  the broken and unbroken promises, the fulfilled dreams, the hope, the past, the now, and the future. The first step in walking into 2022 is leaving everything behind in 2021. No dwelling on what should have, could have, or would have been. Know, without doubt, that 2021 is over. Just as the Lord provided a new life and new hope for Israel, He will provide the same for us. Isaiah 43:18 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” Let’s walk into 2022 with intentionality. Let’s do life and not let life do us. Happy New Year!

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