I was pondering about the life of Jesus and how He lived with “intentionality”. He was never haphazard in what He does or who He will meet. Even when it seems like the connection was initiated by those who needed healing from Him or those who wanted Him dead, He knew what He should say or do. He was well prepared.
We see that He took time to spend with the Father. He listened, He watched what His Father is doing or saying and He did the same thing. He was being intentional in revealing His Father to us (John 5:19). He was intentional when he met the Samaritan woman at the well. He knew what He wanted to say to draw her to the truth. He was being intentional.
The most intentional action that He relentlessly went for, of course, was to die on the cross for our sins. Everything that He did was geared towards that. Isaiah foretold the Lord’s suffering “I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting” (Isaiah 50:6; cf. Matthew 26:67; 27:26; Mark 15:19; Luke 22:63). Now that is “being intentional and not wavering under the intense pressure of life and pain.”
Being Intentional in the big and small things in life will give us a sense of purpose. The Bible tells us that when we don’t have an aim, a vision, we will live carelessly. Does this sound familiar in these days of COVID lockdown? It is so easy to wake up late, still wearing our pyjamas, and aimlessly go through our day, not committing to any appointments or any tasks. After all, we are at home alone or can’t go out anyway. The problem is that what we are creating can turn into a habit or a lifestyle.
Many people are feeling depressed or lacking enthusiasm lately because it is difficult to channel inspiration when it takes discipline to live purposefully during isolation. More than ever now is the time we need to be intentional in how we live. May I share with you some suggestions on how you can start with the daily small routine to get back into living a life that has meaning? And please let me know what you have found helpful in boosting your days during isolation.
- Set a specific time that you want to get up each morning and start with your devotion in reading the Bible, worship or just talking and listening to Jesus. Make yourself a cup of coffee and why not have breakfast while you spend time with the Lord. He does not mind that at all 🙂
- Write down the names of a few people that you want to connect with regularly. For me, I would try to set a time to pray with my prayer partner on Signal a few times a week. This has kept me on track spiritually, physically and emotionally. It feels so good to know that there is someone I can encourage and someone I can talk to when I need to air my frustration and then pray them away.
- Look for the best home exercise you can do on youtube or if you are allowed to go out and walk or run in your neighbourhood, be intentional about this either daily or on alternate days.
- Have a routine of what you might want to do an hour before you go to bed. Whether it is downloading and watching your favourite show or reading a book, get into a habit of doing it. Once the show is over or you have finished ready a chapter or whatever you do to wind down, tell yourself that it is time to sleep.
- Take time to ask the Holy Spirit, what you should invest time to learn now. We don’t need to wait till covid is over before we learn and grow in what we can develop. I am investing in myself in the area of writing. There are heaps of free youtube lessons and teachings that you can pick from. Get yourself ready for the next move of God. When the doors are opened again, things will move very quickly.
Prayer
Father, we thank you that you are with us in every season of our lives. Help us to be intentional in doing life with you. We don’t want to slack and let life passes us by. Build within us, goals, visions and the discipline that we need to be intentional with the time you have given to us. We want to live and move and have our being in you every day. In Jesus’ name, we invite you, Holy Spirit to inspire, motivate and tutor us to live with Intentionality. Amen!
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