Intentionality

Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually!

Ps.105:4 ESV

As we wrap up 2023, it's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of the season. In fact, I call the time from Labor Day through New Years, the swoosh. There's so much going on that time seems to go faster than any other season. Of course, there's no difference in the length of a minute but busyness makes it seem that way. As the leader in our home, under the authority of King Jesus, we can't let busyness become an excuse for not pursuing God each day. 

David, the author of Psalm 105, reminds us to never stop pursuing God. The Psalm recounts God's blessings poured out from Abraham all the way to Joshua's conquest of the Promised Land. The end of the Psalm reminds us that God's blessings are lavished upon us when we obey Him and live in accordance with what He deems best for us. Amid the whirlwind of busyness, we run the risk of drifting if we're not intentional in our pursuit of Jesus. The writer of Hebrews also warns of this in Hebrews 2:1, "Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it."

The consequences of allowing distractions to cause us to drift can be severe. We become vulnerable to temptation and sin, we seek the things of this world ahead of the Kingdom, and we model ungodly behavior to those who are under our leadership or in our sphere of influence. The Voice of the Spirit becomes faint when we're busy listening to the noise of the world. God has called men to, "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong." and "Let all that you do be done in love." (1 Corinthians‬ 16:13-‬14‬) This is even more important during this busy time of year. Intentionality doesn't happen by accident. It's a matter of prioritization, discipline, and focus. 

Men, as you continue through the month of December, have a plan for family devotional time. Hopefully you and your family have joined us in going through a chapter in Luke from December 1 through Christmas eve. Don't compromise or allow excuses to keep you from weekly attendance with your local body. If you're taking time off from work over the holidays, don't give up your time each day in prayer and study of the Scriptures. In fact, make it a point to use your time to dig deeper into God's Word. 

Guys let’s face it, our enemy is counting us to get distracted and drop the ball when it comes to leading our families. Don’t let the hustle and bustle of seasonal busyness be the excuse that takes you out of the mix. The enemy knows that if you check out, it’s a much easier road to take your family out. We can’t afford to allow this to happen and the only way to do this is with action. There's no greater gift this season than intentional time with Jesus. As David instructs us, seek His presence continually.