Intentional

Webster dictionary defines ‘intentional’ as : done by intention or design :

A of or relating to epistemological intention

B having external reference

Another website says to live intentionally means to choose to make decisions and take action on what's important to you.

We aren’t often the type of people to pick a word for the new year…

But 2 years ago I decided to just pray about it and give it a try. In 2020, my first year on staff, God gave me a word, ‘behold’, which meant to seek or look at. Often in the bible behold is followed by making something new.

In 2021, God gave me the word choice. To constantly make a choice to do something. I must be honest, I didn't follow this word the way I felt God was calling me to.

So when 2022 came, I was hesitant to even pick or pray about a word. But as my husband and I stepped into a new season and started making new year's goal or resolutions, it seems a word picked up.

INTENTIONAL

But what does it REALLLY mean to be intentional. We knew what Websters told us, and what some random website told us, but what did the bible say?

Philippians 3:13-14 ESV

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Habakkuk 2:2-3 ESV

And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

Being intentional is so much more than a thought to do or be better. In fact, I’d go as far as saying, God almost reused last year's word and reworded it a different way. Taking our dreams and desires and CHOOSING to make a change. Sounds a lot like choice.

John Maxwell writes:

“If I wanted to make a difference… Wishing for things to change wouldn’t make them change. Hoping for improvements wouldn’t bring them. Dreaming wouldn’t provide all the answers I needed. Vision wouldn’t be enough to bring transformation to me or others. Only by managing my thinking and shifting my thoughts from desire to deeds would I be able to bring about positive change. I needed to go from wanting to doing.”

So this year Lemi and I are choosing to make a change by being intentional in several different areas

• With our supporters

• With our friends here on base

• With our time together

• With our time alone

• With our health

• With our friends and family at home

Intentional living means living according to our values, and we value the life God has called us too. The life His word asks us to live. To not just be of God, but in Him. To NOT be of the world. Which means diving into His word, more than just merely reading it. To be with people more than just being present around them. To be faithful with what God gives us rather than throwing it around. To communicate in a way that says “we love and miss you” rather than “Just give me the highlights”.

We are only a few days into 2022, but I can tell you that my new year so far has been spent laughing A LOT with friends here on base, catching up with family, making hard times not so hard. Studying the book of Psalms which is not only transforming how we see God, but it's transforming our prayer and worship time, and helping Lemi and I grow closer together.

We aren’t perfect at it, but we figured if we were going to have a word for this new year, we should probably be intentional with what we do with that.

We will keep you updated with where we are at!

Until then, we wish you all the best 2022!