While reading my devotional this morning the word intentional jumped out at me; that we are to be intentional in choosing to love God, intentional in spending time with Him, intentional in serving God, intentional to walk in love toward others.  We are to be intentional with our faith in God.  Each area of our relationship with God must be intentional. This shouldn’t be difficult to understand because it’s also true of every relationship we have, whether it be with God, family or friends.

Intentional means to have in mind a purpose to do something. When we purpose, we make decisions to be determined to reach an aimed result. Our aimed result as a Christian should be to please God. The word intentional is from the word intend, which means to have in mind a design for a specified use or future. God has designed you, and me, for a specific future and a hope. So, the question is more of what do you intend to do with your relationship with God? We must purpose in our heart to believe God’s Word. We must be intentional to live according to His Word: to walk in love, to walk worthy of His calling. (Ephesians 4:1) We can only do this by living a life intentionally seeking His Word. We must walk with a repentant heart.  I not saying that we should live with a fearful mentality that we have sinned or might sin, I’m saying that we should be quick to repent if God shows us some area that is displeasing to him. We should be intentionally listening for His voice; for instruction, for guidance, for encouragement, and for affirmation of our faith. We are to be intentional to pray and in looking for answered prayers.

God’s intention for us is for us to be like him; to love others unconditionally, to have faith to heal the sick, to have the financial means to provide for those in need. We are to be holy as He is holy. God has good thoughts toward us, thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give us a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that the thief comes to steal, kill, and to destroy, but that HE came to give us life abundantly. We should be intentionally seeking the life HE has for us.

We must be intentional with a determined purpose to make decisions to live according to His Word. I’ve found that when I keep myself intentional to follow the instructions in Matthew 6:33 – to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness – that’s when I most accurately walk in His design for my life.

I encourage you direct your attentions to the intentions that you want. In other words, pay attention to what you’re paying attention to!  Our intentional relationship with God will only come to pass when our attention is kept on His Word.

Have an intentionally good week.