Living with Intentionality
Intention is simply an aim or a plan; intentionality is the act of putting the plan into action and being dedicated to it. It's about doing.
Welcome to the 93rd issue of The Aim and Soar Life, a weekly newsletter about faith, personal growth, and lifestyle that provides actionable, relatable, and biblically rooted content to help you live abundantly and GROW YOU. GOD’S WAY.
Happy First Sunday of 2024!
Wow. You made it another year! You are here and that is a testament to God’s faithfulness to you.
What will your response be to Him? What will you give back to God?
I stopped making resolutions a million years ago because I never kept them. I always started strong with good intentions, but I ended up slacking off after a while. And you know what they say about good intentions? The road to hell is paved with them.
I have absolutely no intention of going there, my friend.
So how do we move past good intentions to sustainable results? Well in education, we call it Backward Design. And if you’re familiar with The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey, then habit # 2 “Begin with the End in Mind” might ring a bell for you.
What I’m saying is that you must begin any purposeful journey by knowing the end (Sort of like writing a book. You need to know how it’s going to end or else you might just keep writing).
The end matters because having good intentions is not enough. Your “why” has to be tied to something greater.
News Flash: Jesus taught us that the end matters before Backward Design and Steven Covey were a thing. Yup, right in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). He gave us our purpose and that is the foundation our intentionality needs to be built on.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go [a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [b]Amen.
Matthew 28:18-20, NKJV
You and I were placed here to lead people to Christ. Everything we do from the time we awaken until we close our eyes to sleep should be about living a life for Christ.
Intention is simply an aim or a plan; intentionality is the act of putting the plan into action and being dedicated to it. It's about doing.
I’ll repeat that: It’s about doing. Not once or a few times, but continually.
This year, I invite you to live with intentionality.
Priority number one is being intentional about living for Christ. That means your lifestyle, what you do daily, what you talk about, and what you post on social media (take a big gulp) ALL circle back to what Jesus called you to do: make disciples, baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything you’ve learned from Christ in His Word.
This includes being intentional about worship, study, and meditation. Carving out specific times for these disciplines will fortify your faith and your spirituality.
Now, you may have some personal goals, like getting fit or being a better steward of your money, which may include saving and investing more or giving more. How does living with intentionality work in these instances?
I’m glad you asked.
What is the end result you are trying to accomplish? This is a trick question.
Remember I said your priority is being intentional about living for Christ and everything you do circles back to what He’s called to do?
Well now, if you want to get fit your reason shouldn’t only be because you want to look good (although that’s not a bad reason). Go deeper with me. How does getting fit plug into the Great Commission?
The healthier and fitter you are, the more you are physically able to do in ministry. That’s a greater purpose than just looking good. Your end goal should be to serve to your maximum capacity.
It’s the same principle with your finances. I’ve made a decision to save and invest more as I continue to pay off debt so that I have more money to give to my church and other ministries that support and promote the Gospel and help those in need. Financial freedom to me is having enough for myself and being able to help others.
Getting your finances in order can help you promote the Gospel and support the Kingdom.
Let your intention be bigger than you; let it be about Him.
As you live with intentionality in 2024, I’m praying that God BLOWS YOUR MIND with GOODNESS!
Peace and Love.
Until Next Time,
GROW YOU. GOD’S WAY.
Sherrhonda
P.S.
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