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For the last number of years, I have tried to live intentionally.
(P.S. Please read to the end and find my news)
Before our sons came to us, I worked in our church’s women’s ministry. I loved interacting with the women in our body, leading and teaching Bible studies, and being a part of the inner workings of our church.
When our oldest came along, I transitioned from being at the center of everything to feeling like I lived on a shelf. For an approval-seeking ambivert, this change shocked my heart and thoughts.
As our son grew, I strived to become more involved again, trying this activity and that service opportunity. I attempted to fill a void only God could fill.
My craving to be involved distracted me from living intentionally.
What does it mean to live intentionally?
According to Allaya Cooks-Campbell of betterup.com, living intentionally means “thinking ahead and making choices based on your personal values, beliefs, and goals. People who live with intention try not to act on impulse but instead, think ahead and choose things that affect their lives positively.”
Living intentionally—a choice
Living intentionally is a choice we make with every decision. When we understand our values, beliefs, and goals, we can make choices that support each.
9 Inspiring Changes to Help You Live Intentionally—. When we understand our values, beliefs, and goals, we can make choices that support each #liveintentionally #tellhisstory Click To TweetIf you’re like me, setting these aside is easy because life is so busy. Daily demands crop up—in the forms of others’ expectations, job requirements, family needs, home responsibilities, and more. When we try to meet every demand, living in a way that supports our callings becomes difficult.
How we can make the changes to live intentionally and more fulfilled
Making changes begins in the heart and the mind.
Heart shifts
Busyness will steal all we’re willing to give it. But when we know God’s purposes and believe He has callings for us, we will shift our priorities to align with God’s best for our lives.
Heart shifts take time. Especially when we’ve struggled to believe God and people value us, accepting the truth that we should live into our God-given callings and purposes requires a heart reset.
This may require us to spend time alone with God and asking Him to show us our value in His eyes . No, this isn’t all about self-esteem. But until we realize God values and loves us, it’s almost impossible to believe it’s okay to make changes to live intentionally.
A few tips to live intentionally
We must find balance. Fully devoting ourselves to our calling, goals, or dreams to the point of ignoring people and our responsibilities is one unhealthy end of the pendulum. On the opposite side is fully devoting ourselves to everything but the calling God has given us.
We must ask for God’s perspective so our hearts can align with His.
When we’ve spent time with our Father, gaining His insights on our intrinsic value, we can ask Him to show us His purpose. Finally, we must trust that God has given us callings, desires, goals, and dreams.
Ask for His guidance in how to live into these in His way and timing.
Mindset shifts
God has created each of us with a specific purpose, often with more than one. We have roles: spouse, parent, employee, etc. Carrying out our responsibilities for these roles can lure us to become too busy to focus on our purpose. Often, our callings intersect with these roles.
If you’re like me, perhaps you’ve struggled with believing your purpose or goal is less important than everything else on your plate. An early step toward living intentionally comes when we think through our callings and dreams and grasping how to fulfill them. Then, we must prioritize how we spend our time each day.
9 Inspiring Changes to Help You Live Intentionally—living intentionally comes when we think through our callings and dreams and grasping how to fulfill them #liveintentionally #tellhisstory Click To TweetTruths to remember
God loves each of us. He values the callings He’s given us. He created us to fulfill specific things, and we are the ones who can best do them. We may be the only person who can reach out to that neighbor across the street. Others may be able to encourage in a similar way, but they won’t do it the same way we will because they are different from us.
When we become distracted by our roles and allow them to hold a too high place in our priorities, we can’t live into the calling God has given us.
Living intentionally each day is impossible when we become busy with other demands.
If we want to live intentionally, we must decide that our callings deserve our efforts and time. And that this is okay with God.
Conclusion
I’d prayed for years for the gift of motherhood. When God finally answered that prayer, I struggled with the busyness of meeting baby and toddler needs and my desire to be involved outside my home.
After I embraced my new role as a mom, letting go of the external things became easier. As our boys and my mothering wisdom grew, God gave me insight into how to live intentionally in the season I was in. He helped me find the balance between mothering, writing, and other opportunities He brought my way.
When we live intentionally, we live fulfilled.
What about you? What helps you live intentionally? How has this changed through seasons of your life?
*****For the last four years, I have loved hostessing the Tell His Story link-up. With the place I’m at in life right now, I sense the Lord encouraging me to pass the baton. If you have a heart for this link-up and would like to consider taking on the mantle, please use my contact page to send me a message, and I’ll be happy to share the details. It’s not hard to do, I promise. 😀 Please let me know within the next couple of weeks if you are interested. Thank you very much!*****
P.S. I’m traveling this week, so I will be slow to respond to comments and visit, but I’ll do my best to stay present here!
Come share your story at the Tell His Story linkup. Connect and be encouraged by like-minded friends! #tellhisstory #linkup Click To TweetMost weeks, I link up with Grace and Truth, Inspire Me Monday, Instaencouragements, and Let’s Have Coffee. Come join and read more encouraging posts!
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
Jeanne, I love the idea that God “values the callings He’s given us.” I guess it’s obvious that He would, or he wouldn’t have given them to us. But I had never thought of it quite like that before. I think living with intention looks different in each new season, and it takes time to figure it out. That’s where I am right now, as I know you understand!
I’ve enjoyed your hosting and appreciate that change can be challenging. Thank you for your faithfulness to follow His lead.
Debbie, thank you for being such an involved person in the THS and in my community. Your wisdom and insight consistently challenges and inspires me.
Jeanne, thank you for all you do here. Yes we must find a balance. I look forward to see what God is doing in your life and love your writing and the journey and lessons that God gives you.
Deborah, I appreciate your words of encouragement! Thank you so much for being a part of my community, as well as of THS. 🙂
I will miss seeing you in this space but I applaud you for following the Lord’s leading. I sense God bringing some changes in my writing and ministry life, as well.
Donna, you are such an encourager. I will still be blogging in my space just not hosting the link-up. I so appreciate the wisdom you share here and at your place. 🙂
Living intentionally requires me to stay focused to the task at hand. When I lose my focus or it becomes blurry, it impacts everything. Thank you for being so faithful to provide an encouraging community each week. May God bless you and your writing endeavors in the days ahead!
Joanne, Living intentionally does requires us to stay focused,usually on one thing at a time, doesn’t i? I have loved hosting THS. 🙂 I’m still going to be blogging, just not hosting the link-up. I hope we can still be “blog friends.” 🙂
You have certainly weathered some major life changes recently and you have been sharing all the insights they have yielded. It seems we learn most about parenting and other relationships retrospectively !
Michele, we do tend to learn the most retrospectively, don’t we? When we walk in the middle of the challenging times, we (or at least I) am more focused on how to get through it than on the lessons I can learn, if that makes sense. 😉 I appreciate your visit, friend!
Balance and perspective do help us maintain the proper give-and-take between our calling and relationships, Jeanne. Contentment in life’s seasons helps too! Thank you so much for hosting Tell His Story on Tuesday’s and for transitioning it to the next hostess, Jeanne. Have a wonderful trip!
Lisa, yes! Balance and perspective are powerful in helping us maintaining a healthy balance between calling and relationships. I love what you said about contentment. I’m grateful I’ve met you through THS, and I look forward to continuing to stay connected after the next hostess (hopefully!) takes over. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your insight of the truths to remember in living intentionally in whichever season we are in, Jeanne. I think what especially encourages me here is that whatever season we are in, our worth doesn’t decrease in God’s eyes, and He has given each of us a unique way of encouraging. Thank you for your faithful commitment to THS! I hope you will still be posting the encouragement you do. 🙂 Love and blessings of safe travels!
Trudy, I always appreciate your encouragement. God is so good to value us regardless of the season we’re in. I am thankful for you And yes, I’ll still be blogging, just not hosting the THS link up. Thanks for the wishes for safe travels! 🙂
Trusting that the Lord will speak to the perfect blogger to keep this longstanding linkup going! Thank you for faithfully providing this Tuesday morning space for us, Jeanne.
Thank you for those prayers, Linda. I’m praying the same. 🙂 I appreciate you, friend!
It’s so easy to just let the seeming need of the moment push and pull us, til we get to the end of the day without getting to the one thing we meant to. I try to remember to ask God every morning for wisdom about what to do when that day.
Thanks for hosting THS all these years. Wow, four years has gone by fast! I remember when you started with it. I pray that the right next person to take on its hosting will feel God’s leading to do so.
Barbara, I am the queen of allowing an individual moment derail the rest of my day. I am still establishing a habit of asking God to guide each of my days. I am so grateful God has connected us through the THS link up. I look forward to staying connected even after I’m no longer hosting. 🙂
Ah, being intentional was part of my focus last year but it was ‘praying with intent’.
To be intentional in the season I’m in (‘season’ is this year’s WOTY) it’s about letting go of the previous seasons focus & embracing the new season (which often times is not easy!) but it is necessary.
For we don’t wear winter clothes in summer or vice a versa as we would suffer, it’s the same in life seasons we need to change. ☺️
Blessings, Jennifer
Jennifer, I love your analogy with seasons and making changes as the seasons lead. Thanks for that word picture!
“We must find balance. Fully devoting ourselves to our calling, goals, or dreams to the point of ignoring people and our responsibilities is one unhealthy end of the pendulum. On the opposite side is fully devoting ourselves to everything but the calling God has given us.” I know I start to feel agitated when I’m off balance, or feeling pulled too much in one direction or another. Seeking God’s plan for my day helps set my mind at ease and knowing He will fulfill His purpose–as He is in charge after all!! Have a wonderful week, Jeanne!
Lynn, like you, I can tell when I’m out of balance because of feeling agitated and stressed. May we both be intentional about seeking God’s plan for us each day. 🙂 I love what you said about how God is good about fulfilling His purpose in and through us each day. I hope your week is wonderful too!