God's Impeccable Timing

In a devotion I read yesterday, it said,"You will discover God's best in God's time. But you cannot rush the revelation of God's will for your life. Your understanding will follow once His work of grace has grown your trust and transformed your relationships. Jesus wants you to know Him deeper, before He leads you further." (Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters). How deeply these truths cut into my deceptive, confused layers. All week it has been a battle to find joy. I fought for it, held onto it, but then, out of the blue, something would come along and knock it away from me.

At one point I cried out, "Why, God? Why?" because my vision of understanding was blurred and limited. Then, yesterday, God answered, and He answered with a victorious sound. The dust settled, the sun came out, and the trophy of joy sparkled once more in my hands. God is impeccable in His timing. Truly that devotion I read yesterday was meant for me. Truly God speaks to those who seek Him with questions and cries for help. Truly God's best comes in His time.

Admittedly, I often try to rush God's will for my life. I'm impatient. My failure to understand causes me to question God rather than to trust Him more. If I want to live a more intentional life, then I must learn to trust God more even when I do not understand His ways, His timing, and His silence. Trust is essential for me to rely on Him completely. Joy begins in trust. Therefore, even when I cannot see the reason or outcome in my next battle and I am being beaten by confusion, I must use the weapon of trust in order to receive the trophy of joy and the victory of God's best in His impeccable timing.

The Greatest Fear

A friend of mine tonight was talking about a speaker, who she heard at her church recently, say that to know someone's greatest fear and to love them for it is a great gift of encouragement. She was talking in reference to a marriage and understanding and loving your spouse, but for me, it spoke volumes of wisdom. What if we knew everyone's greatest fear and then aimed to love them in that area?

What a challenge it would be to live each day more intentionally for Christ by loving others in the areas of their greatest fears! We would mirror Christ all the more, for He did this very thing as He walked the earth. The fears of dying and death, of permanent illness, of hopelessness, of burdens too heavy to bear, of uncertainty, of failure, of loss, of unworthiness--you name it, the fears were there--surrounded and sought the Savior of the world.

Repetition is a technique often used to get a point across. Parents use it, teachers use it, kids use it, and even God Himself uses it. Repeatedly (at least 85 times) God said in His Word, "Do not fear" or "Do not be afraid." Go ahead, search those exact phrases in biblegateway.com. (I used the NIV translation.) The more I think about it, the more I realize how fear can either drive us away from God or drive us right to Him. Those who had great fears (as mentioned above) sought Jesus' healing, love, and salvation. The dead rose, the lame walked, the hopeless hoped, the burdens lifted, the uncertain became certain, the failures turned in to successes, the loss found, the unworthy made worthy. Therefore, do not be afraid. Do not fear. The Lord Jesus Christ has restored us through His great love and has conquered all fears so that we may be free.

Consequently, I must do my part in response. I must live more intentionally for Him by loving those who live in fear or who are hindered by great fears. I don't mean just love them, but love them in those areas so that they may be strengthened by God's love and be assured of His freeing gift of grace.

1 John 4:17-19

"This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us."

Finding Joy in the Midst of Suffering

"But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." 1 Peter 4:13

Finding joy when going through a trial is like trying to find a flower in a blizzard. Confusion, hurt, stress, and agony are some of the emotions that seem to accompany suffering. To rejoice when it seems as if the world is crashing down around you-or at the very least pressing down on you-is a ludicrous request; and yet, that is the very thing Peter writes as God's Will for us. "So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." 1 Peter 4:19 When I commit myself to Christ during my sufferings, I, then, share with Him those sufferings as well as in His glory (vs. 13). His glory always comes just like the sun always shines after a storm. You and I can be assured that His glory will come. This is why we should rejoice. "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." (Romans 5:3-4)

This week I have suffered some, but nothing like Christ had done for me and for all of us. To live an intentional life for my Lord and Savior is to rejoice in my sufferings. And so I do. Joy cometh.

Praying for those Who Persecute

The other day I wrote about intentionally giving thanks to God in all circumstances. Today, I feel He has challenged me to do just that as well as to pray for those who persecute me. I feel like I have had one beating after another today. Ever feel that way? It didn't just rain, and it didn't just pour, it sleeted, it stormed, it pummeled hail the size of golf balls. That's the kind of day I have had. That's the kind of challenge God has set before me. Will I still give thanks? Yes, absolutely, 100 percent. He still hangs on to me, even if I have lost my grip.

Not only will I get down on my knees tonight and give thanks, but I will also pray for those who persecuted, hurt, or upset me today. Matthew 5:44-45 says, "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." See, it rains on both the righteous and the unrighteous. I, at least, know that when it does rain, like today, my heavenly Father is there to hold me up under the weight of it, otherwise I would drown. To live intentionally for the Lord, I need to pray for those who persecute me because they, too, need to know that God, the Father, is holding them up.

Yes, today was one storm after another, but God is my anchor, my Rock, my refuge. I will not let the storms of today change my course of intentional living. Tomorrow the sun will rise, and my King will set before me a new horizon. I go forth in trust.

Worship

Intentional and inspirational living happens especially in worship. Worship should not be routine. It should not be habitual. Worship should be a desire of the heart. It should be intentional.

My desire to go to church to worship God is because of my need to respond to His love. One way I intentionally live for Him is in worship by making the songs and liturgy my own words. When the pastor is praying, I silently repeat some of his words, especially when he is praying for people of our congregation. Worship becomes more meaningful to me when I make it my own. Anything we do intentionally for God, comes back tenfold.

Psalm 86:11-12
Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.

Giving Thanks

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." --1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Gratitude is a huge part of living intentionally for the Lord. When we have hearts full of gratitude, then God is being honored, praised, and recognized for the goodness of His character. This is especially challenging when things do not always go our way.


Today, things did not go my way. I had prayed for a certain outcome, and the opposite happened. My natural, immediate reactions were frustration, hurt, and grumbling. I look back now and see the error in my ways. I was reacting in a selfish, distrusting way. I was not saying, "Lord, You are God, holy and just. Thank you for always doing what is best for me. I trust you with my life and I trust in your character, which is good and worthy of praise." This is why I need to be more intentional in giving thanks in all circumstances.

I found this journal (see picture) at a Family Christian bookstore. I aim to write in it daily the thanks I have for the Lord. I pray that we would all have hearts full of gratitude, "For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:5









Colossians 3:15-17

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Choices

Every day there are choices to make. How intentional are we in making them? Do we purposefully make choices that would please the Lord? From what we wear to what we eat to what we say to what we do, we should think about how the choices we make would honor God. The Spirit is in us and He will lead us to make the right choices. Stay in-tuned with the Spirit by daily staying in God's Word. I intend on consulting the Spirit more since He ultimately knows what is best for me.

Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Listening and Encouraging

Intentional living involves the simplest of intentions. Providing a listening ear and an encouraging word to someone who just needs to vent serves God. We all need assurance that someone cares. Everyone desires support, an affirmation that states, "You are okay."

I'm sometimes emotionally drained after listening and encouraging. I'm sometimes more stressed because I gave up time that I could have spent doing the things that I needed to accomplish. Yet, I never regret lending a listening ear and giving an encouraging word because I feel most complete in doing that small act of service for someone.

I want to do more than just the polite, "Hey! How are you?" I want to be more intentional by saying, "No, really. How are you? Is there anything I can help you with? Is there anything I can pray about for you?" I may never be asked that in return. I may exert all emotional energies listening. I may even receive a cold shoulder to my kind gesture. Regardless, I need to do this for the Lord, to be His voice and His light. I need to do this not only for those closest to me, but also for those I pass by daily but never really stop and say, "Hey! How are you really?" I need to be more intentional in listening and encouraging to those I'd least likely be intentional towards.

Reaching Out to the Unlovable

I teach middle schoolers at a Christian school. The devotion I read to them this morning talked about grace being love undeserved. It went on saying that we are to love when someone is least deserving. That's how we know we are truly demonstrating God's love and representing Christ.

I challenged my students to say a kind word today to someone they like least, to someone who annoys them, or to someone who you wouldn't normally say a kind word to. I challenged myself to show love to someone I'm not close with more than I would to my best friend, my sister, or my mother. That challenge was met; not because I wanted to, but because I saw the need to.

A "friend" of mine was crying out with a need for a friend. We're not that close, but I knew as soon as we interacted today, I knew a close friend was needed. The challenge of showing love today was a door waiting to be opened. It's also a challenge that I realize I can't just fulfill and be done with. Showing love to this "friend" isn't a one-time event. It's one that I know I'll keep continue doing, and I can say with confidence that it's not because I have to but because I want to. It does a person's heart good to give love.

The thing that I didn't think about when I gave this challenge to myself was the impact it would have on me. Intentional living is about serving God and others, but what I'm experiencing is how I'm being served in the process. I am being blessed in ways I wasn't aware I needed. I'm feeling more complete and more satisfied than ever before. There's healing taking place, there's joy, there's excitement, there's growth, there's peace, and there's power. Intentional living is reaching out to the unlovable because only then, can we understand the grace and love of God and why He reached out to us.

Prayer Boxes

The other day I read Francine Rivers' book "The Shoe Box," which is a Christmas story about a foster child, Timmy, and the shoe box that he takes wherever he goes. Timmy doesn't let anyone see what is inside the shoe box, and when he is asked about what's in it, he simply replies, "Things."

Various events take place throughout the story, but the most standout event is the Christmas play. Timmy is one of the wisemen, and instead of using one of the props as the gift to give the King, Timmy gives his shoe box. By the end of the story, all is revealed as to what was inside because Jesus has opened the shoe box and has displayed all of the items.

The story plus what Francine Rivers wrote in the preface inspired me to find a prayer box. Francine Rivers writes about how difficult some of her burdens were when she first became a Christian. She had made a box and wrote down her prayers to put into the box so that she wouldn't have to carry the burdens anymore. I find myself not so much carrying burdens but trying to control certain areas of my life. This is why I have decided to have my own prayer box.

Therefore, I set out yesterday to one of my favorite antique malls to find the perfect prayer box. I don't care too much for shopping unless it is antique shopping. That is my retail therapy. I'll shop for clothes if I need to, but I'd much rather go antique shopping. I love the stories antiques seem to shout as they sit there all cluttered and used.

Anyway, I found three vintage tin boxes that I absolutely loved! So I really could have three different kind of prayer boxes if I wanted to like one for thanksgivings, one for letting go of control, and one for noting God moments. I'm definitely sticking with the one purpose of the prayer box, which is to let go of control so that I can live a more intentional life for God.

I then went to Michaels and found a pretty shabby chic notepad on which I could write my prayers. My prayer box is designated for the things I keep asking God about but I'm not actually trusting Him to have control. I wrote down one right away yesterday, and I already feel I've let it go because I know now in a more tangible way that God has it. It's remarkable how writing something down releases it!

Matthew 6

25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

New Beginnings

When a new year begins, we often hear the human attempts of new starts, new resolve, and a new me. We all want more, to be better. New beginnings like a new year reignite hope that faded with the passing of time. Just like a captain looking out across the sea and knowing ahead he'll find land as he takes his voyage, I, too, look out at this new year with new hope.

God deserves my efforts even in their smallest attempts. His grace is sufficient for me, and His love is abundant and unending. How do I respond to this love and grace? By going through the motions of each day like a hamster on a wheel? No. I mustn't anymore. Because even though it feels as if I'm moving, I'm not. The wheel might be turning, but I'm not going forward in any direction. This is not what God has intended for us, for me. He has called us (He has called me) to be more and to have more purpose than to go through the motions of life.

My resolution, then, is to live a more intentional life for God. What this means to me is to look for opportunities each day to serve Him, to do what He desires for me to do, to spend more time in His Word, to do the things that go against the natural flow of the day and the natural desires of the flesh, to go against what I may want, to be more grateful, and to look more actively for the presence of God in each day.

Intentional living needs accountability, which is why I began this blog. I will attempt to blog each day about how I'm living more intentionally for the Lord. I pray that this inspires others to seek out Christ who offers love, grace, forgiveness and freedom, and who has called us to something better: "God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." --Hebrews 11:40

There may be storms ahead for me in this new year and with this new resolve. My ship may capsize, but I know for certain I will not drown. No, I refuse, in fact, to go down the the ship. I have a life-Savior who keeps and will continue to keep me afloat. I may drift, but I am determined to arrive to my destination. I will always look for the Light that will signal the shore is close. I will lift my sails toward the horizon of this new year, and I will let the winds of the Spirit guide me. Therefore, every effort I make to move my ship forward, I will make with intention. This is my resolve. This is my new beginning.