Intentionality

Intentionality the fact of being deliberate or purposive, done with intention or on purpose; intended: of or relating to intention or purpose.

My wife and I are taking a class about Marriage and Families. In class we were discussing what happens when a husband and wife come into counseling and they say they have fallen out of love, but they want to make the marriage work. The advice that is given is to chose to love your spouse, because know what, love is a choice. When we start to do the things that we once did, our feelings start to change. We have to be intentional and it takes work, but in order to change our thoughts we need to put effort into it. We seem to do what is easiest, because it is easiest, but sometimes in order to continue to fight for that choice, we have to make that choice. Just saying I love you isn't enough, not show it daily, moment by moment. Love is just a word, but it can be so much more than that, it can be a action that changes not only yourself, but the person you say you love.

The Christian walk is just the same we have to chose to walk in the word, to chose to put God first, it just doesn't happen, but the more we do it, the more it becomes what we want to do. If we do not try it will not happen. Yes, we will be saved, but Jesus wants us to desire a deeper walk with Him and if I am just going to church on Sunday that will only leave me filled for a moment, but now what about the next 6 days.

Now during the next 6 days if I am just reading the word, but not putting it into practice, I am not following what Jesus is talking about, I must be willing not to just hear, but also to do. In James 1:19-27 he writes about this very thing he says "19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear,slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word,which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." He says in verse 22, but be doers of the word, not just hearers. We must intentionally do what God is calling us to, not just hear it and say well that isn't for me or I don't feel like it. We may not feel like it, but when we put it into action otherwise it is just words.

Maybe you haven't seen it, but being intentional will change us, it will change our perspective on thing, it will change our feelings. When we do what is right, it may not be easy, but in the end it is so good, because that is what God is calling us to.

Gods ways are higher than our ways, isn't it time to do it His way?