Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Youtube
The Intentional Life
  • Listen
  • Watch
  • Read
  • Attend
  • About
    • About Dr. Randy Carlson
    • Stay Connected
    • Membership
    • Contact
    • Share your Story
    • Who Is Jesus?
    • Found on Family Life Radio
    • Free Resources
  • Donate
Menu
  • Listen
  • Watch
  • Read
  • Attend
  • About
    • About Dr. Randy Carlson
    • Stay Connected
    • Membership
    • Contact
    • Share your Story
    • Who Is Jesus?
    • Found on Family Life Radio
    • Free Resources
  • Donate

Are You Just Getting By?

  • March 21, 2016
Randy Carlson

Randy Carlson

Dr. Randy Carlson

As Easter approaches, we as Christ followers turn our attention to the incredible sacrifice God made. Through the death, burial and resurrection of His one and only Son, He offered each of us the gift of eternal life. But today, I want to ask you to consider something more.

[bctt tweet=”Eternal life doesn’t start when we get to heaven.”]

Eternal life is God’s gift to us, should we choose to accept it. And once we do accept it, then I believe it is our responsibility to give our lives back to him by choosing to live an intentional life in Christ. Eternal life is God’s gift to us; intentional living – choosing each day to live intentionally in Christ – is our gift back to Him. Eternal life doesn’t start when we get to heaven. Eternity is today—right now!

Each day, millions of people get up to find themselves stuck in mediocrity. George Barna, who has offered so much in the area of research of the church and of our faith, provides some staggering statistics:

  • 78 % of Christ followers say, “I’m not dependent upon God.”
  • 52 % claim there is more to their faith than they are experiencing today.
  • Only 3 % of Christians admit to surrendering control of their life to God completely.
  • 31 % of Americans feel held back by something in their past leaving less than 70 % who feel that they can move forward in their lives.

There is so much more to life than just getting by. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (NIV). Through Christ we have a sense of hope. We know the end of the story and our promise of eternal life and yet many of us as followers of Christ live in hopelessness. We can feel hopeless about our marriages, our financial situation and relationships. There’s a sense of despair and hopelessness that we can have in our lives that keeps us from experiencing the hope we have in Christ.

How we live today sets the tone for tomorrow and the day after, and the day after. If we can grasp a real understanding that our gift to God is the choices we make and the actions we take. What we think, feel and do each and every day demonstrates our love for God. In John 14:15, Christ said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (NIV).

It’s only when you give your life as a gift back to Him that you can really live.

Suggested Intentional Living Broadcast

What Do You Do With Easter?

Tell Us

What does Easter mean to you? How do you demonstrate your love for Him? Post your comments below.

CATEGORIES
Popular Posts

Your Windows are Unique

Finding a balanced perspective through the head, heart and hand If you recall, earlier this

Read More »

Your Window to the World

How Head, Heart and Hands provide you with a unique perspective Whenever you look out

Read More »

Your Response for Such a Time as This

You’ve probably seen it all by now. Your inbox teems messages from every organization or

Read More »

Your Personal Threat Assessment

Take a moment to reflect on what Jesus went through for us on Good Friday.

Read More »

Your Life Lived on the Face of a Clock

6 things to consider for how you live out God’s purpose Thinking of our lives

Read More »
Previous Next

Related Articles

Loading...

It’s All in Your Attitude

Dealing with Roadblocks and Resistance

Nine Habits of an Intentional Parent

Site Links

  • About Dr. Randy
  • Statement of Faith
  • Ways to listen
  • Donation Info
  • Financial Statements
  • Prayer Wall
  • Who Is Jesus?
  • Share Your Story
  • Free Resources
  • Contest Rules
  • About Dr. Randy
  • Statement of Faith
  • Ways to listen
  • Donation Info
  • Financial Statements
  • Prayer Wall
  • Who Is Jesus?
  • Share Your Story
  • Free Resources
  • Contest Rules

About

Intentional Living

National Ministry Headquarters |
PO Box 35300 – Tucson, AZ
85740 | (800) 776-1070

EFCA


Tax ID

#86-0672542

Charity Navigator

Latest Episodes

Open Phones for Marriage

May 29, 2023

It’s Memorial Day, a time you spend with… FAMILY! And perhaps, as you’re spending time with your family, you look into the eyes of your

Read More »

Raising a Responsible Adult

May 26, 2023

You’ve heard Dr. Randy, on numerous occasions, talk about raising responsible adults. And coming up, he wants to know how you’ve done that; how you’ve

Read More »

Subscribe to our weekly broadcast and updates

Support Intentional Living

Your donation makes a difference!

DONATE!

Social

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Youtube

© 2023 Copyright Family Life Communications Incorporated. All rights reserved.    Privacy Policy