5 Anchors to Help You Live Intentionally
In John 17, on the eve of the crucifixion, Jesus and His disciples broke bread together and Jesus instructed them on what was about to happen. Of course, they didn’t quite understand, but praying to the Father, Jesus said, “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world” (John 17:18 NIV). And that message has resonated since the time of Christ to us today.
As Christ followers, we are to recognize that we’re not of the world, but Jesus is sending us into the world every day to live in the world, to be a part of the world, but we are not lost in the system of the world.
I want to share with you five anchors that can help you live intentionally in the world.
If we look at history and we see where we’ve come as a culture, God has blessed America. For the most part in our culture, we’re not satisfied with what God’s intention is for humanity. We want more.
- Some want to change the definition of gender.
- Others want to be able to create over $30 trillion in debt and say, “That’s okay.”
- And many want the opportunity to abort babies because they’re going to be a problem for them.
Jesus said, all we have to do is look at where our treasures are, and that’s there’s where our hearts will be also (Matthew 6:21). As a culture, we want to consume more and control more. And yet we see in today church attendance, respect for religious leaders and respect for the family are all on a decline.
Our culture continues to deteriorate. Scripture says that in the last days, we’re going to see what we are seeing today. You and I go out into the world, and the questions:
- How are we to behave?
- How are we to live?
- How can we stand intentionally firm in this world in which we’re living today?
- How can we experience hope for ourselves and share it with others?
Five anchors are important for us to get a hold of so we can experience an intentional life.
- Why?
Without a clear why, our lives are driven by our emotions, our desires, our hurts and our passions.
Remember, the three parts of intentional living are:
- The unintentional life, which is not knowing our reason and pursuing things, just to pursue things.
- The good intentioned life, where we may know the reason, but then we don’t follow through on God’s design for us to go out into the world and to know our why.
- And the intentional life, which is what we want to choose – a life glorifying God.
So, the question is, what is your why? Why are you here?
The Westminster Short Catechism came out in 1648 and gave us a beautiful example of what the why is for life: our chief purpose – the why for all humankind is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
First Corinthians 6:20 says, “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (NKJV).
The power of the why question
The answer to your why helps drive everything you do, every interaction you have and every decision you make.
Every decision has a consequence in your life.
As you interact with other people, the why question is powerful. So often when we sit down with others, we focus on what we want to talk about. But when we get to the why of why we’re here, the power of why can drive our lives.
To live intentionally in this decaying culture in which we live, make sure that you’ve nailed down clearly the answer to the why.
I’m here to glorify God. In the process, it’s going to benefit others and bring encouragement to myself. I know I’m not perfect; I am a sinful person, to whom God has granted mercy and forgiveness. He’s told us that if we confess our sins, He’s faithful to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Your why is not about perfection. Intentional living is not about perfection, but doing the next, right, one thing, knowing why we’re here and living it.
2. What?
I encourage you to have goals in the five essential areas of your life. Set some goals that honor to God and will give you a target.
It doesn’t mean the goals won’t change. But I think we should get up every day and set goals or have some you are working toward. I wear a little ONE THING wristband every day, which serves as a reminder for me to have at least one goal every day that adds some value to other people. That moves me closer to living out my purpose in life.
As we go out into the world, we should be present and visible in every area of life. Christians should be involved in the arts, in medicine, in politics, in the home, in every area of life for God’s glory. Colossians 3:23-24 says, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ” (NKJV).
Standing Strong in a Dying Culture
Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord Your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like to it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-38 ESV).
How do we interact with a with a culture that hates us, hates what we stand for, hates Christianity and is blasphemous toward God?
3. How
How are we to live? We’re taught to be tolerant. And yet many people think Christianity is intolerant.
When I was a young leader, one of my mentors taught me that we need to be like velvet hammers in this world. The velvet hammer is a picture of how we’re to live. On the inside, we’re to be firm. We should know what we believe, why we believe it and stand firmly. But when we interact with other people, we need that velvet touch. We want to reach out in a sense of loving our neighbors as we love ourselves.
We are to love people by coming alongside those who are hurting.
Unfortunately, many young people don’t know what they believe, and they’re getting caught up into what the culture is teaching. There’s no firmness in their life. They go with whatever the latest TikTok video is teaching them, the latest guru or whatever it may be in their life. And so I encourage us, as we go out into the world, to live like that velvet hammer, knowing what we believe, why we believe it.
4. Where
The Bible says we’re to go into all the world – to your neighborhood, to your church, to the store or around the world – everywhere we go. But Jesus put some boundaries in place for sharing the Good News. He uses a metaphor: “Do not give what is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet” (Matthew 7:6 NIV). It’s a word picture. Wild dogs can be dangerous, maybe even have rabies.
You’re going to have people that you come across who are open to the gospel, who are in great need. You can almost sense that they’re open to receive the gospel. They’re looking for hope and encouragement. Then there are those that ridicule, are harsh and have no use for you. Jesus is saying to be careful. Make sure you’re going to those that are ready and open – but pray for those that are not.
5. When
When do we do it? We do it now.
Steven Davis, the producer for Intentional Living, and I were talking about this. He said, “It’s about now! Intentional Living is not about tomorrow. Tomorrow will have its own challenges.”
We can be intentional tomorrow, if God allows us to be there. We can’t go back and be intentional about yesterday. That’s gone. God will forgive, and God will restore. We have today, this moment now. Today is the day of salvation.
I pray, “Lord, teach us to number our days that we may have a heart after wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
Every time we see a person in over their head should be a sign. This is a person that God loves, a spiritual being who has an eternal destiny. We should love and care for them. Will you be that velvet hammer, tender on the outside and tough on the inside?
BONUS TEACHING FOR EXCLUSIVE MEMBERS!
Please enjoy this month’s bonus video “Thriving Intentionally.”
Both teachings are available exclusively to you as thanks for your faithful monthly support to reach people all over the world through Intentional Living radio programming and other resources.
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