Intentional Living

"What is your definition of living?"

I know for me, for so long, "living" was getting married and having kids. The enemy made me believe that life before that wasn't really life. Sometimes, the enemy still tries to whisper that lie again. So, what does living mean to you? Maybe it looks like the next thing that you're longing for. Maybe it's being done with school or getting that dream job. Maybe that's all life is summed up to in your mind. Thank God that life begins before "that thing." I'm so grateful for the years I've had before getting married and having kids. We all need some defining, growing, and refreshing. Even though I may long for another season, I am learning to be just as content in this season. I'm growing and using tools that are lifelong.

Obviously, living doesn't equal marriage and children. I think living, truly living, is being intentional, purposeful, and all in right where you're at. That doesn't mean we never change. But it's learning to be intentional with every ebb and flow. No matter where you're at, be all in where your feet are. And where are your feet are is bound to change. Thank God that life comes from Him. That without Him, there would be no purpose to life, no creation of life, and no redemption of life. Life is not sustained by me, but all of Him. I do not determine when my life starts. Life started for me 21 years ago. Just because life doesn't look the way we planned, wanted, or thought it was supposed to be, doesn't mean we aren't living. It is no wonder the enemy wants us to confuse what life looks like. In John 14 Jesus says, "I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." But in John 10:10 it says, "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the fullest." The enemy wants to destroy life, what better way to do that than redefine what living looks like? While the definition of living can be as simple as "alive" or "breathing." I think there is such a thing as living, but not truly. I believe truly living for the Lord is being thankful for where He has us, stewarding what we have and the season we are in well. Not stopping living where we are at because we long for something else. He knows what is best. His timing is the best. There's purpose to what you are doing before "that thing." There is life to be had before you reach the next season. We might be longing for a season of spring in a season of winter. But if we rush past the winter, sit in the hibernation season, we can die before spring. Trees literally shake off every leaf for winter so that in the spring they can come back. If a tree (besides evergreens) doesn't shake off it's leaves, it was dead before fall came. A healthy tree adapts for the season. A tree doesn't bloom in spring, and if it did, nothing would last through the winter. Maybe you feel like you're in winter. A season of hibernation, hiddenness. And maybe you're ready to be done with winter and explode into spring. Let me tell you, there is purpose, even in the winter. The hibernation is preparing, growing, and protecting you. I want to be a tree that braves every season with flying colors. We have this tree in our front yard that every fall turns the most vibrant of reds. I want to be the most vibrant tree in the fall, have the biggest blossoms in spring, the greatest protection in the winter, and the brightest flowers in the summer. I want others to look at me and see Life. Light. I want them to see vibrant, intentional Living. No matter the season. Living intentionally, right where my feet are, and right where they will be. This season may not look like you wanted it, but it sure is how God knew it would look, and He knows what's up ahead. So lean into this season and thank God for what He's doing here. Whether He is preparing, shaping, blooming, growing, or displaying all you are. Thank Him for the purpose this season has, because He intentionally lives and purposes all things.

A question I asked myself the other day was "how can I live intentionally right where I'm at?" What does that look like for you? My list made me view things differently. It made me see everything I do, not just as accidental, but how much I want everything to be intentional. Intentionally loving, intentionally joyful, intentionally gentle, kind, self controlled, patient, peaceful, good. Intentionally Him. Intentionally Living. Bringing the most glory back to Him. Life is now. Life is tomorrow. Life is next year. But how will you live today? Who will you live for today? The world tries to tell us what makes life... followers, body image, relationships, parties, drinking, social media, having the most, "you do you," etc. The Bible says it simply and profoundly, Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is no argument, there is no confusion. Life comes from Him, thank God it isn't in our hands, because we would surely all be long gone.