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style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\"></span></span></span></strong><div><strong><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">Living Intentionally For God’s Glory</span></span></span></strong></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;A university professor reports being invited to speak at a military base one December and meeting an unforgettable soldier named James, who had been sent to meet him at the airport. After they introduced themselves, they headed toward the baggage claim. As they walked down the concourse, James kept disappearing, once to help an older woman whose suitcase had fallen open, once to lift two toddlers so they could see Santa Claus, and again to give directions to someone who was lost. Each time he returned with a smile. “Where did you learn that?” the professor asked. “What?” James said. “Where did you learn to live like that?” “Oh,” James said, “during the war, I guess.” He then told the professor about his tour of duty in Vietnam and how his job was to clear minefields. He described watching his friends blow up before his eyes, one after another. “I learned to live between steps,” he said. “I never knew whether the next one would be my last, so I learned to get everything I could out of the moment between when I picked up my foot and when I put it down again. Every step I took was a whole new world, and I guess I’ve been that way ever since.” The soldier was living intentionally.</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Living intentionally means doing things on purpose <em>for</em> a purpose. Our desire to live for God must outweigh any temporary inconvenience. Living intentionally means owning our days rather than letting them own us. It isn’t drifting or sleepwalking; it’s a deliberate approach to life. Think of intentional living as being the architect of your life rather than simply an occupant. Just as an architect carefully considers every aspect of a building’s design, intentional living involves thoughtfully considering how your choices contribute to the larger picture. Intentional living focuses not only on the achievement but also on the quality of the experience. In June 2017, 33-year-old rock climber Alex Honnold scaled a 3,000-foot vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, widely considered the world’s most challenging wall. He was the first to climb “free solo,” without equipment or ropes, at one point hanging from just his thumbs, one thousand feet above the ground. Honnold says, “I am probably more intentional about how I live my life than virtually anybody.” While we justifiably applaud such achievement, the Bible calls us to something more meaningful.</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;If you ask anyone who has attended some form of Sunday School, “What do you think of when you hear Noah’s name?” it’s unlikely they will answer, “Well, he walked with God.” Most people would tell you about the ark he built to save the earth’s population. And indeed, this was a high calling he received from God. Yet I think the higher calling was this: “Noah walked with God” (Gen. 6:9). I believe there is no higher calling. When you consider how long Noah lived, you will see that the time he spent saving the world was equivalent to about twelve years in the life of an eighty-five-year-old man. So, what was he known for from God’s point of view during all the other years? He walked with God. He moved in step with God’s timing, neither rushing ahead in haste nor lagging behind in doubt. Pacing ahead risks confusion. Falling behind is delayed action and a loss of spiritual momentum. Pause when God pauses; move when he moves; just stay close. We don’t drift into purpose—we walk into it with intention (2 Peter 1:5-7).</span></span></span><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\"></span></span></span>​<br></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The Old Testament prophet Daniel shows us that spiritual growth requires prioritizing prayer and obedience over comfort and convenience (Dan. 6:10). He demonstrates that godliness is fueled by discipline, not feelings. Intentional believers keep their devotion alive even when it’s inconvenient. It’s easy to go through the motions, living by the whims of fate. It’s easier to stay stuck and make excuses than to do the work required to change for the better. Sometimes we’re too busy to prioritize wisely. Other times, we’re too weary to care. Living on autopilot and reacting to life as it passes by is not really living; it’s mere existence. Without the Holy Spirit working within us, we’re at the mercy of worldly distractions and easily manipulated by what society offers. Acting on impulse, we lose sight of who we are and what we were called to do. Living only according to our circumstances, we opt for immediate gratification without considering the consequences. If we hope to enjoy a life characterized by the fullness of God, we must make Scriptural choices and take action that moves us in that direction.</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Living for God’s glory starts with a new heart, so let’s consider what this means. In the 1990s, it was revealed that after Woody Allen’s long-term affair with Mia Farrow ended, he became romantically involved with her 17-year-old adopted daughter. Allen seemed to find nothing wrong with dating his former girlfriend’s teenage daughter. When a reporter challenged him, Allen rationalized and defended his actions, then concluded by declaring, “The heart wants what it wants.” As disturbing as that defense was, it reflects the truth that our actions are determined by the condition of our hearts. This is why Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). In other words, a person free from hypocrisy, hidden motives, and moral corruption will be a privileged recipient of God’s favor. Having committed adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrated the death of her husband, Uriah (2 Sam. 11-12), David experienced the truth of the prophet Jeremiah’s words, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:9). In repentance, David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (Ps. 51:10). He was not asking for a minor adjustment. David did not say, “cleanse my mind” or “rejuvenate my disposition.” His problem was more serious than that. He said “create,” the same Hebrew verb used in Genesis 1:1 for God’s creation of the universe. His was not a prayer for renovation but an earnest request for a replacement. David treated moral corruption as so fundamental that his old heart was beyond repair.</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Before committing these terrible deeds, David enthusiastically pursued God. He wrote worship songs, danced before the Lord, and sought divine guidance. But sin shattered his heart, and for the first time he saw himself as a moral wreck. David recognized something we all must acknowledge: his problem was more than bad choices. His heart was corrupt, and he knew reform could not fix him. Many years later, God would speak through the prophet Ezekiel, making explicit what David had understood intuitively: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you” (Ezek. 36:26). Psalm 51 is a testament to God’s unfailing love and readiness to forgive those who earnestly seek him. The heart of true repentance is recognizing that we cannot fix ourselves. The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Christianity is not about effort; it’s about being remade. New life in Christ begins when the old life is left behind. David needed the Almighty to do the impossible. He wanted to live intentionally for God’s glory.</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Bobby Moore was England’s soccer captain when his country won the 1966 World Cup. He received the trophy from Queen Elizabeth. Later, when asked to describe how he felt, he said he was terrified as he approached Her Majesty because she wore white gloves and he feared his mud-covered hand would soon shake hers. As the triumphant captain walked along the balcony, he kept wiping his hand on his shorts and then on the velvet cloth in front of the Royal box, desperate to get clean. Many people hesitate to come to Christ because they think they must “fix” themselves first. Remember that Jesus doesn’t wear white gloves on his outstretched hands; in fact, they are bloodstained. He stands with his arms open wide, always ready to embrace you. So come as you are, let him into your life, and celebrate the passing of the old and the coming of the new (2 Cor. 5:17).</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Too often, we try to manage our hearts by sheer willpower. We make promises to ourselves, set goals, and try harder. For a while, it might work. But when pressure and temptation come, we find ourselves right back where we started. David’s prayer shows that real change comes from God’s power, not ours. A heart transplant doesn’t make a sick heart healthier. It removes the failing heart entirely and replaces it with a living one. After surgery, the patient doesn’t merely act alive—they <em>are </em>alive. They don’t breathe because they’re disciplined. They breathe because they have a new source of life! True Christianity isn’t self-help, moral improvement, or spiritual rehabilitation. It’s RESURRECTION. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;David didn’t write Psalm 51 as a private journal entry. He wrote it as a public psalm meant to be sung by God’s people. He gave it to the director of music with instructions for its use in worship. Why would David do that? Because God answered his prayer, and the psalmist wanted everyone to know that divine transformation is possible! After this prayer, David’s life wasn’t perfect, but it was different. Whatever you’ve done, whatever patterns you can’t break, whatever ways your heart has led you astray—God can create something new. God answered David’s prayer, and he will answer yours. The singer’s prayer revealed more than a mere transactional request. It was a two-way conversation rooted in trust and dependence upon God.</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Too often, rather than resting in God’s love, we fight to make Christianity look successful. This is not our job. Indeed, it is commendable to uphold God’s name, but the effort becomes misguided when we try to do so by acting the part and hiding our weakness. Only by dealing honestly with ourselves and God do we make room for the Holy Spirit to move with power and grace. In Psalm 38, the “man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22) describes what he felt before confessing his sin: “I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly… as for the light of my eyes, it is gone from me. My sorrow is continually before me.” But then he said, “Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.” With complete abandon, the psalmist David cried out to a faithful God who answers prayer!</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;In his book <em>The Heart of a Father</em>, Ken Canfield writes: During a family vacation, Sarah grew a little ornery and pushed Hannah. “Did you push your sister?” I asked. “No,” she denied. So I decided to take a walk with her to get to the bottom of things. “Sarah,” I told her, “I’m really disappointed in your behavior. What do you need to do?” I expected Sarah to say she needed to stop lying and apologize to her sister, but instead, with tears in her eyes, she said, “I need to ask Jesus to change my heart.” There I was, zeroing in on behavior modification, while my 6-year-old daughter was grappling with the bigger issue of a new heart. I was focused on morality; she was focused on the One who makes morality possible.</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;God’s renewal is not superficial. Lay down your regrets, weariness, and attempts to fix yourself. With a new heart, let God restart your story. Embrace his purpose every day with intentionality. Choose to live by decision rather than default. Long before physical heart transplants were a viable option, God sent his Son as our divine heart donor (Gal. 4:4-5), “delivered for our offenses, and raised again for our justification” (Rom. 4:25). How did Saul (later known as Paul), a militant opponent of Jesus Christ, become Christianity’s most passionate and committed advocate? Saul was not a likely candidate for a new heart (Acts 9:1). Like us, he had done nothing to make himself worthy of God’s grace. There is no human explanation for Paul’s conversion, or for any <em>other </em>conversion. This is why salvation—living intentionally for God’s glory with a new heart—is the greatest of God’s miracles!</span></span></span></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\"></span></span></span><br></div><div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">​by David Renison</span></span></span><br></div><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\"></span></span></span><span style=\"font-family:neuton;\"><span style=\"font-size:20px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\"></span></span></span><br>","verticalAlignment":"top"},"metaData":{"position":{"left":-416,"top":146},"size":{"width":552,"height":4697}}}]}],"offset":{"left":231,"top":64}}],"connections":{"targetConnections":{},"sourceConnections":{}},"customStatesProperties":{},"pageId":"id1792002098224","version":17.004,"id":"id1792325992887","relativePoint":{"left":231,"top":64}}