Being Intentional

This is a follow-up to my earlier post “Failure to Thrive.”  My little guy saw the doctor today and I am happy to report that he is doing well.  He has gained 1 1/2 pounds in 2 weeks and is a little longer too!  All the lab work came back normal, so no underlying medical issues in place.  Of course my Internet research had me thinking otherwise, but I just didn’t want to think that I wasn’t feeding him well enough.  So we are on formula full time now and I’m okay with that.  He is thriving again and working on catching up to where he should be on the growth chart.  He’s on a fast growth curve.

What I learned through this process is that I have to be intentional.  My little guy didn’t really act like he was starving.  When he acted hungry I fed him.  What we now have to do is be more intentional about feeding him.  He is so good natured and laid back (he gets that from his daddy) that he just didn’t cry out in hunger.  I have to be intentional about looking for hunger cues (other than crying) and feeding him at regularly “scheduled” times.

I think the same is true in our spiritual journeys as well.  There are times when we “cry out” in spiritual hunger.  We are empty and need replenished.  And then there are times when we are cruising along, laid back and life is good – no apparent needs.  When things are going well, we often fail to feed our spirits by seeking God and searching His Word.  It is during those times when we fail to grow.  It is during those times that we need to be intentional about feeding our spirits with the nourishment of God’s Truth.

What does it mean to be intentional?  Being intentional means doing something on purpose, with a plan, being deliberate.  It’s NOT accidental or haphazard.  Being intentional means have a regular part of the day that is given to God in prayer, devotion or study.  Being intentional means DOING IT!  I have great aspirations of spending daily time with God.  Then I’m tired and need the extra 15 minutes of sleep in the morning.  Then the kids don’t nap at the same time.  Then hubby and I need to talk after the kids are in bed.  Then I’m exhausted and can’t keep my eyes open.  Then the next morning…  I’m the haphazard sort.

So my new plan is to be intentional about my time with God.  I am going to get up with my hubby’s alarm on the days that he is home and read a devotional booklet.  One devotion a day.  When that booklet is done, I will move on to a book on prayer that I have.  So now it’s out there.  My plan of action.  My fellow Christians get to hold me accountable to what I said I would do. 

So now tell me, when is your intentional time with God?