Living your life intentionally, living your life with purpose is not for the faint-hearted. It is difficult and full of challenges.
To live your life in such a way means that you will declare your standards and values and you will refuse to compromise.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. But set your mind to be right-minded, even as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.
The dictionary explains `sacrifice` : “the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim, the thing so surrendered or devoted, a loss incurred in selling something below its value”
To live my life in a sacrificial manner towards the principles of God means that I value the Word more than I do my life.
“Reasonable” is defined as: “agreeable to reason or sound judgment, capable of rational behavior, decision” I consider the options and I make a deliberate choice. I intentionally sacrifice my way of thinking and doing and bring it into submission of God’s Word.
I do that because, I decide to surrender, because my own rational thinking has convinced me that doing it God’s way, serves a higher cause and is a more important issue. God’s agenda serves a higher purpose than my own agenda.
How do I manage to maintain this attitude? How do I remain focused?
1. “be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God”
Any habit, good or bad, begins as part of a thought process. I think about something long and often enough and eventually the thoughts will turn into action. The more I do something, eventually it becomes a habit. Unfortunately my habits will eventually form my character.
2. By saturating myself with the Word, by aligning my thought patterns with the Word, I will eventually become a `doer` of the Word. In turn my character will take on the character of the Word.
But, it is a choice, and it is a choice that goes hand in hand with perseverance and determination.
However: take heart: Gal 6:8 For he sowing to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh. But he sowing to the Spirit will reap life everlasting from the Spirit. 9 But we should not lose heart in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not faint.
I suppose it`s okay to live your life, based on chance. The `whatever-will-be-will-be` attitude. You know, get up in the morning and let`s see where this day will take us.
3. But. That reminds me of “Jam 1:6 Let him make his request in faith, doubting nothing; for he who has doubt in his heart is like the waves of the sea, which are troubled by the driving of the wind.” Especially the waves of the sea. Forwards and backwards, forwards and backwards.
Ø People who live intentionally can not live like that. They should perhaps live after the example of Joshua.
Joshua stood before all the people of Israel and declared:
Jos 24:14 So now, go in fear of the Lord, and be his servants with true hearts: put away the gods worshipped by your fathers across the River and in Egypt, and be servants of the Lord. 15 And if it seems evil to you to be the servants of the Lord, make the decision this day whose servants you will be: of the gods whose servants your fathers were across the River, or of the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living: but I and my house will be the servants of the Lord.
Ø Observe someone who has direction, who has a plan and a purpose. They move forward, and those around them will know it. People who live intentionally, will be noticed. Not because of their pride or arrogance or because they are loud and obnoxious. No, they will be noticed because of the qualities and the values they purposefully instill into their own lives.
Ø What do they look like: people who live intentionally?
1) They will not be ashamed to let the world know that they are headed somewhere.
2) People who live intentionally will always be inspirational to others. They have a desire to see others live with the same drive and intent. They will sometimes be role models without even knowing they are. The lives they strive to live, will be example enough.
Joshua purposed to be a man who lives intentionally. He boldly stated his ambition: “but I and my house will be the servants of the Lord.”
Ø Why would he make such a bold statement?
He knew the covenant he had:
Jos 1:3 Every place on which you put your foot I have given to you, as I said to Moses. 4 From the waste land and this mountain Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, and all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea, in the west, will be your country. 5 While you are living, all will give way before you: as I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not take away my help from you or give you up. 6 Take heart and be strong; for you will give to this people for their heritage the land which I gave by an oath to their fathers. 7 Only take heart and be very strong; take care to do all the law which Moses my servant gave you, not turning from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may do well in all your undertakings.
Ø Get to know your covenant and live intentionally.
I think it was Admiral Hyman Rickover that said “Learn from the mistakes of others, you will never live long enough to learn from your own”
Technology changes and advances so quickly, If you do not continually update yourself, you will be left behind very quickly.
Learn from the success of others. Why reinvent the wheel? It’s already been done. People who live intentionally should strive to do new things.
Tackle new ventures. Try something new.
Ø 1Pe 4:10 Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: Don’t keep everything to yourself. If you learnt a new skill, if you discovered a new revelation, if you came to a new understanding, share it. Don’t be afraid to ask. How will we learn if we never ask.
Ø Don’t always attempt to impress people, wanting to prove you are on the same level as they are. If you feel intimidated by the company, just tune in and listen intensively. Determine to learn from them. As you learn from others, you grow. Perhaps next time you won’t feel intimidated, because you have spent time learning.
Ø If you feel that God is beginning to prepare you for a new direction in life, begin to prepare and to equip yourself as well. Don’t always try to `wing it`. Find a mentor or a trusted friend, who can help you and guide you in your preparation for your new level. Read, study, and gather information. Pro 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who listens to advice is wise. Pro 15:22 Without wisdom, purposes are defeated, but by many wise men they are established.
2Ti 2:15 Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
By applying yourself, by taking and gleaning from others, their wealth of experience and knowledge, you will never be left ashamed.
Somebody once said “Fake it till you make it” I, don’t trust in that attitude anymore. Before you `make it` you might just end up being exposed. Save yourself many moments of embarrassment, by owning up to the fact that you don’t know everything about everything. Sometimes it’s just better to admit that you don’t have the answer. It`s okay not to know everything.
However, that is not an excuse to remain ignorant.
People who live intentionally are people who do what it takes to develop and grow. They are the risk takers, they are the ones who will try and try again.
They walk by Faith, for they know they have a Father in whom they can trust.
People who live intentionally, who made it their purpose to live according to the Word of god, will live in the miraculous. They will see and experience what others would only dream of or wish for.
Living intentionally brings change and brings achievement with it.
Luk 5:3 And he got into one of the boats, the property of Simon, and made a request to him to go a little way out from the land. And being seated he gave the people teaching from the boat. 4 And when his talk was ended, he said to Simon, Go out into deep water, and let down your nets for fish. 5 And Simon, answering, said, Master, we were working all night and we took nothing: but at your word I will let down the nets. 6 And when they had done this, they got such a great number of fish that it seemed as if their nets would be broken;
These guys were experienced fisherman, they knew the waters and they knew the conditions. This was their business.
Yet they decided to follow the instruction of Jesus. They did so intentionally. Simon could have ignored the advice, he could have told Jesus to please stop interfering. No. He chose to listen and to do.
The thing is, Simon did not have to buy another boat. He did not have to find a new crew to help him. No. Al he had to do was to allow Christ, to direct him.
When we decide to allow Christ into our lives and we truly submit and make Him the master of all, things change.
Psa 119:104 Through Your Commandments I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. 105 NUN: Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.
1. “Master, we were working all night and we took nothing”. Simon made an admission. He admitted to Jesus that they have been hard at work, doing it in the way they knew, but they had no success. Sometimes we need to jus admit, that our way of doing things, do not produce the expected outcome. Perhaps we are not so bright after all.
2. “but at your word I will let down the nets”. Lord, just speak the word. Tell us how it should be done and we will do it. How often do we say this, but when His Word does not make sense, we stubbornly carry on in our old ways. Perhaps if we decide to accept His Word and His ways, then we will experience His results.
3. He will never stop encouraging us. That is why He gave us His Word to light up the way and to guide us in His path.
Not only does the Bible contribute to our belief in the best is yet to be, but the things of our daily lives reveal that this is true, too. It is this belief that keeps the scientist, inventor, and researcher busy.
· The best car hasn't been developed.
· The final cure hasn't been discovered.
· The safest plane hasn't been produced.
· The best song hasn't been written.
· The best product is not on the market.
· The best church hasn't been grown.
· The best sales presentation has not been perfected.
· The best class hasn't been taught.
· The best way hasn't been found.
· The best...is yet to be.
The phrase "The best is yet to be" is a positive affirmation that gives life direction. It provides hope: there is more to come in life. It's the spirit of expectancy: good things are going to happen. It is seen through the eyes that look for opportunities that will be greater than ever. It is received through proper planning and work. Desire is the fuel that makes it a reality. THE BEST IS YET TO BE!
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