Being intentional in the New Year

Intentional: done on purpose or a deliberate action

How can I be more intentional in my relationships? In my daily routines?  How can I be more intentional in my walk with Christ? Why is this important?

I’ve learned something about myself. If I’m not intentional, it will not happen.

If I want a clean house, I know that I need to have a plan for Saturday morning. I make a list on Friday night of what I want to accomplish in the house on Saturday. Otherwise, I’ll spend all day Saturday watching Hallmark movies, and the house doesn’t get cleaned.

If I want my family to eat healthy meals, I need to create a menu early in the week, and then go grocery shopping with the menu in mind. Otherwise, without intentional planning, we’d eat frozen pizzas and Kraft Mac and cheese all week.

If I want to get into better shape, I’ve learned that I need to come up with a plan for working out each day of the week. Otherwise, I find other things to do that take priority over exercising. Like snoozing my alarm too many times.

If my husband and I want to save more money, we have to sit down and look at our budget to develop a plan. Otherwise, our money disappears somehow and we wonder where it went.

I’m learning that if I want to grow closer to the Lord, I have to meet with Him everyday. It takes discipline and intentionality to make this happen. I have a corner of my bedroom that I’ve designated as my prayer corner. It’s next to my nightstand, where my Bible sits. If I don’t develop a daily routine of spending time in prayer and Bible study in the morning before work, it won’t happen.

When my kids were growing up, I knew that if I wanted them to grow up with a heart for the Lord, I had to do more than make sure they were in church on Sundays. I tried to make sure they were surrounded by other adults/teachers/coaches who would point them toward Jesus. I normalized making prayer a day-long activity, not just something we did at bedtime or before meals. I taught them the importance of scripture memorization and tried to make it fun for them. We placed them in a Christian school, where biblical values would be incorporated into everything they were taught. These things don’t just happen without effort and intentionality.

I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions, but I do like to think about goals for the new year. I want to be more intentional about waking up early enough to do my Pilates routine 3-4 times each week. I want to finish studying and teaching the book of Acts with the young adult group from our church. I want to paint and redecorate a couple spare bedrooms (spare now because we are officially empty-nesters!!). I want to take a trip with my hubby for our 30^th anniversary this summer. I want to drive my Mom to Georgia to visit her sisters. I want to be intentional about posting more regularly to this blog.

I want to trust my Lord more fully in 2026. I want to be obedient. I want to serve Him well this year. I want to love others as He does. I want to be His hands and feet. That will take intentionality.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. -Colossians 3:17

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. – Romans 12:11

Choose for yourself whom you will serve………as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. – Joshua 24:15