As we gathered for our weekly prayer meeting, our faithful members were a bit taken by a request from one of the students that we pray for her to have more intentionality. As we broke down the meaning of the word, we discovered that her request was quite admirable and right in line with biblical thinking. The word intentionality originates in the philosophical realm and connects the power of the mind to be about something: to represent or to stand for things. Its focus stems from mental determination and connects deeply to beliefs. The bottom line is we all need more intentionality to be so focused on the Kingdom of God and His righteousness in a time in history when distractions abound.
Matthew 6:33 (ESV) — 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Of course, the Lord Jesus Christ is the best example of all to living a life of intentionality. His life was a life intentionally serving His Father.
John 6:38 (ESV) — 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
John 4:34 (ESV) — 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
The apostle Paul demonstrated intentionality as he focused upon the motivation of his drive to serve God.
1 Corinthians 2:2 (ESV) — 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
Galatians 2:20 (ESV) — 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Philippians 3:8–10 (ESV) — 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV) — 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
The Lord Jesus Christ made it known that to be His disciple and follow Him was intentional in self-denial and in being willing to do whatever it takes to follow Him in the way we think, the things for which we pray, and the things we do.
Luke 9:23 (ESV) — 23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Luke 14:33 (ESV) — 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
Luke 9:62 (ESV) — 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
The request for prayer by our student for more intentionality was really an advanced prayer request. Knowing that living in total dependency upon the Lord Jesus Christ is the way to tap into the power of God and living in a “sold out” and “all in” way is the only way to serve our Lord Jesus Christ, why wouldn’t you request God to give you more intentionality in serving Him? It was the man who admitted his need for more intentionality, as in overcoming his unbelief, that attracted the attention and blessing from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Mark 9:17–27 (ESV) — 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
May you also pray for more intentionality and following up on that prayer, be disciplined in living a devoted life to God, depending upon His power to sustain you each day.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
