Focus Verse: Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)
When I first entered into adulthood and decided to really get serious about Christ, I didn’t feel like I could be used by God. I didn’t feel like I had a story. God hadn’t delivered me from drug addiction or healed me from a sexually transmitted disease. I had not been the recipient of God’s grace and been dropped of criminal charges leading to thirty years in prison. I lived a pretty safe life. What could I ever give to God’s Kingdom?
Then God began to show me, my lack of experience didn’t disqualify me from sharing the wisdom I have gained through observing others who may have experienced unfortunate circumstances. I have always been one to learn from the experiences of other. It’s not necessary for me to go through it for me to learn from it.
Because a huge number of people in the church are in the category where they need restoration and deliverance from bad decisions, I feel, we minimize and diminish the power and wisdom from the stories of those who may have made better life choices. In actuality, if we had experienced those stories sooner, we very well may not find ourselves in those unfortunate positions.
We truly need to hear more stories about people doing things the right way and how their intentional decisions affected their lives and the lives of those around them. I thank God for all the ministries in the church that are designed to help people, but the majority of the ministries we have in the church, we wouldn’t need if more people made a choice to live intentionally. I’m not saying that there won’t be difficulties when we do live intentionally. But I honestly believe those difficulties will be few and far between.
Furthermore, there are people who do want to live lives that are intentional and purpose-driven. Through the stories of those who are living intentional, they can receive encouragement and motivation to continue on the path they have chosen.
Make a declaration today that no matter what your past has been, you will choose to live intentionally from here on out. Then watch how it affects your life and the life of those connected to you.
Prayer: Lord, Thank You for loving me for me. I haven’t always done everything You desired for me to do. Some of my decisions hurt You, please forgive me. As I declare today, that I will live intentionally, help me to remember to always keep my mind on things that are pleasing to You. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen!