Living with Intention

Intention

I woke up crabby, sick of winter and wanting out of my own skin. I had a really good case of poor pitiful me going. I really though this blog was going to be about over coming cabin fever and the winder blahs. Maybe I will write that someday.  Today God knocked me over the head with a message that’s more important.

I was in the kitchen pacing and cleaning alternating between two different prayers requests for healing. My sister’s niece is on a heart and lung machine fighting for her life. My cousin is facing the battle of his young life with leukemia. My prayers were for complete and total healing for these young people. Then part of me started to be angry and ask God why. Why do they have to suffer like this?

He quickly turned my attention to what matters. Living everyday with intention. Yes-intention. You have heard the cliché, “Live life to the fullest.” This is different. “Live life to the fullest” is focused on me. It focuses on my wants, my needs and my desires. Living with intention is about others. It is being purposeful with every opportunity. It is focusing on making a difference in the lives of others. It is not about me at all. It is intentionally living and giving away what Christ has given.

28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” MATTHEW 20:28 (NIV)

I have discovered three G’s in living with intention. First is gratitude. When you live with intention, you express gratitude toward others every chance you get. And, there is a thankfulness for life that spurs simple acts of kindness. I can be more intentional in little ways like holding a door open for someone. I can sit and read with my son when he asks rather than being “busy.” I can make the phone call or send the card to someone I care about. I can be intentional in how I treat each person who crosses my path.

Be intentional with the gifts God has given you. Gifts are talents, time as well as financial. I know I really limit the use of all my gifts. I need to be intentional about where and how these are used. My gifts have more potential when I use them with the intention of serving others. 

Then of course there is grace. I need to be more intentional if offering grace to others. Expressed unconditional love even when someone screws up is life-giving grace. Forgiving someone who doesn’t “deserve” to be forgiven-that’s grace. That is living with intention.

Our lives make a difference. We have a limited amount of time here on Earth. What we do with the time we have here matters immensely. Living with intention is living this call from Jesus: not to be served but to serve. What do you want your life to say. I know I have lots of room for improvement. This concept of intention is going to be wrestling around inside me for some time to come. Will you join me?

How do you live with intention? Share your story here.

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