So to start out I am just going to explain why I chose this title for my blog and where the idea came from etc.
The word Intentional was always just kind of a word of little importance that I would occasionally use to spice up a sentence, but even then I really didn't use it much. This all changed when I was reading the book The Way of the Wild Heart by John Eldredge. (This is his sort of follow up to Wild at Heart that kinda lays out as he calls it a "Map for the Masculine Journey") I had reached the end of the book and I read the following passage which also happens to be the last paragraph.
Finally, beware the culture of busyness, and its unending craving for "the next thing." There are a lot of movements out there in Christiandom right now, and they are not all of the same heart. Stay with the journey you've begun here. Don't let this slip away. Of course, you know that my counsel will always first and foremost be, "ask God." He knows what you need next. Ask him what he has for you---what friends, what adventures, what battles, what help he has in store. Be intentional. "Those who are led by the spirit of God are sons of God." (Rom. 8:14)
Now when I read this it hit me hard, most importantly I felt as though God had done his ever so gentle slap across the face when I read the sentence, "Be intentional." At that moment I think I really began to understand what intentional meant, I can't say I could have explained it, but deep down I understood.
Ever since reading that paragraph its safe to say that the words Intention and Intentionality have basically haunted me (in a sort of pruning challenging sense not in a ghostly paranormal sense). I have had many a times hearing someone preach a sermon or message and they will say something and next thing I know I have written down the words BE INTENTIONAL on whatever I am taking notes on.
As this last year has played out since I have read this I have seen so much of a difference in how much intentionality can change they way you go about things. And this lead to what a lot of my future posts will be about, I plan to go over many different situations old and new that God has laid on my heart and how being intentional can make a huge difference in how you go about things in a God centered manner.
Now I want to talk about being intentional as whole a little more. And I am going to do this with starting out with the generic definition of a word.
Intentionality - n.
- The state of having or being formed by an intention.
This differs slightly from the definition of intentional, which is as follows.
Intentional - adj.
- Done deliberately; intended
- Having to do with intention.
Some words that can be closely associated with these words are Deliberate and sometimes the word Voluntary.
I actually just looked up these definitions for the first time last night when I was thinking about how to put this together and was probably the most caught of guard by the definition of Intentionality in which they use the words "having or being formed by intention." I thought it was interesting how much your "Intention" literally makes all the difference.
Basically whatever ever your actual intention is will affect what you do.
The more I sit here thinking about it the more it makes me think of when Jesus is discussing a tree and it's fruits.
Mainly what I have realized is that intentionality is based ever so strongly upon what or why it is you want to be intentional. You must always make sure that your intention is always to be closer to Jesus Christ and his will for you so that it is that which forms you, if it becomes something else you will be formed by that thing through your intentionality towards it. Like the definition said it is a state of being formed by your intention. I see it as a very cause to effect kind of thing. I think there is a difference between being intentional for your own personal gain and doing it to make your life more Christ centered.“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.(Matthew 7:15-20 ESV)
One example I want to talk about on this subject is how you use prayer. This is something God has really laid on my heart this last semester. What I am getting at is this, lets say your are talking to a friend and they seem to be struggling with some things, before you tell them "I will be praying for you" I want you to think about why it is that you need to tell them that. Is it because they need the comforting words? Maybe it is because you secretly think if you pray for them it will impress them. If this is your motives then I want you to take a sec and look deeper to the source of your intention.
In this kind of situation instead of telling them what you will do, stop what you are doing at that very moment and pray for them. And if God lays a verse on your heart send them that, because God's word is infinitely more comforting than yours. If its a case where they asked you to pray for them, once again just stop and pray, even if it isn't out loud, and then let them know that you will in fact be praying for them.
If you are being intentional about pursuing Christ first and foremost then He should be the first one you go to in every situation. Stop beating around the bush and do what is on your mind, if you can't do something be honest and say that. Honesty towards your self is going to be a huge part of intentionality towards Christ.
So I challenge all reading this to stop being lazy, and do what you need to do, excuses are just a good way to spend time explaining why you are not doing something instead of just doing it.
BE INTENTIONAL.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
(John 15:4-5 ESV)
Now I know I wasn't exceptionally descriptive with a lot examples but hey I need something to talk about in future posts on this blog, and that way I can give myself some more time to pray over what other topics I do and doing plenty of research on each one to make sure that it makes sense and is biblical in every way possible.
