Be Intentional
We thought it would be fun for the family to contribute to the blog on occasion. This week my wife Molly shares about the word that the Lord gave her for the year. Molly is an awesome wife, amazing mother, super creative artist, and gifted writer. If you want to follow her blog or artistic creations visit Just a Little Creativity. I hope you enjoy hearing her heart as much as I do.
In the Father's love,
David
At the end of each year, and into the beginning of the next, I enjoy spending some of my private time with the Lord asking Him to show me what His desires are for myself and my family for next 365 days and beyond.
It’s actually fun to me to imagine and dream with the Lord about what the new year holds. It seems that whatever the word or phrase is at the very beginning, it’s a little of a hint about what’s to come next.
I ask Him for a word or phrase, something to be an anchor I can fall back on when the days seem difficult. Something I can remind the Lord that He spoke to me clearly about. In the past, He’s shown me words like simplify, creativity, purpose, joy. They’re words that in some areas I’ve been able to excel at, and others, ehhh, I’m still working on them. It’s a constant growing and learning process, that doesn’t end at the end of the year. You never say “Well, I’ve found enough joy this year, thanks God, but enough of that”.
A few years ago, Dave and I both felt like the Lord wanted us to simplify in a lot of areas of our lives.
Ok, sure, not a problem, right?
However, when He started to truly show us what He meant by that, it became clear that simplify is anything but a simple word. It can be a hard one. It basically meant letting go of or changing a lot of things that were familiar, comfortable, and not even bad.
One of the hardest things, at least for me, was when we were lead to sell the first house we purchased in Tennessee, the one that we thought for sure we were going to be living in.
I thought a dream was dying, and I really wasn’t happy about it, but we obeyed.
Little did we know at the time, but that sale actually set us up for a solid foundation financially to be able to move here (into an adorable little dream farmhouse), only a short time later. Imagine that, the Lord really does know what He’s doing and what’s on the other side of our obedience! Proverbs 3:5-6 does tell us that, doesn’t it.
Like everyone, there are so many things I’d like to focus on in the natural.
Some of the most common are of course being healthy, eating better, getting more sleep, make more money, create a budget, get out of debt, be more organized, be a better friend.
All of those things are really good. I mean, really, really good goals to strive to achieve. The Lord won’t be disappointed in any of us for trying to make those types of improvements, or even to continue on our well laid paths heading in those directions already.
I, and I think the rest of us, sincerely want to do all of those things.
So, when I was seeking Him for 2019, I told him I want to make and see improvements - in the time we spend together as a family, in health, in growing friendships, and more.
Do you know what my answer was to all of it?
What He showed me for my upcoming year?
Be Intentional.
It makes so much sense right?
Nothing can be achieved without being intentional. Be intentional in seeking His face, spending time with Him. Be intentional at being a good friend, at making healthy improvements. We have to intentionally do these things, holding His hand and seeking His help along the way.
Whatever the Lord has shown you for this year, whatever He’s spoken to you, you’ll need to be intentional to pursue that thing. You’re not alone, He showed you so He can help you and walk through it with you. It may be hard, or easy, I don’t know. That’ll be your own path to take with Him.
Do you do the same thing? Have you asked the Lord to set a path before you this year, speaking a clear word, phrase, specific scripture, or prophetic word?
If so, I encourage you to be intentional with it. Pursue it, and remember it, and together lets see what He does for us this year!
You may also want to take another look at the word the Lord spoke to Dave about 2019, it’s full of good, good things!
If any of this resonates in your spirit, and you’d like a few free goodies as reminders, I’ve created a few printable quotes on my own creative corner of the internet, my website Just a Little Creativity. I’d love for you to stop by and say hello!
- Molly
