6 Intentional Choices You can Make in 2023

I love the old Jamaican proverb,

“What we ‘be’ (become) will be”.

Now compare that to Day’s popular lyrics,

“Whatever will be, will be.”

Those two quotes pretty much sum up two different approaches to life.

Sometimes we live life as if we don’t have a say on its proceedings. After reading the newspaper or watching the news, it is easy to raise the white flag and conclude nothing you do will make a difference.

Like Peter, looking at the storms raging around you, it is very hard not to worry or be peaceful. How can I be happy when my day is nothing but gloomy?

How can I live for God when the world I live in is increasingly becoming anti-God? My point is, no matter what is happening around us, we can intentionally or purposefully choose our reactions.

When life is chaotic, we can choose to be at peace. When everyone we know lives ungodly life, we can choose to live for God.

In my post today, I will be exploring 6 choices we can intentionally make no matter what happens in life.

1- To Live Intentionally Purposeful

The difference between drifting and navigating is purpose. Purpose gives life direction. It is easy to drift through life. It is easy to chase every wind that comes our way. Life is full of dreams and beautiful things anyone and everyone can chase! But amidst it all, we can be intentional about what we chase in life. Rather than filling your schedules in life, you can fill your life purposefully.

 
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21).

2- To Live Intentionally Peaceful

You wake each morning and you know you have to worry. You worry about the news, you worry about your job, you worry your finances, and you worry about anything and everything. Well, that is the world’s reality today. It is so full of uncertainties.

But today, you can choose not to worry. After all, if worrying helps in any way, we will have nothing to worry about. So you can choose to be intentionally peaceful.

And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 7

3- To Be Intentionally Happy

A happy life! We all want it. But we have attributed many things that don’t give happiness to the word ‘happiness’.

If wealth is the secret to happiness, then the rich should be dancing on the streets. But only poor kids do that. If fame or success brings happiness, then celebrities will be the happiest people on earth. But you know that’s not true.

Don’t let circumstances determine your happiness. Choose to be intentionally happy. Express joy at every opportunity and in every situation. Don’t spend your life pursuing happiness. Be happy like little children, they have nothing but yet they express happiness!

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4 

For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15

4- To Be Intentionally Brave

Courage is not the absence of fear. Bravery does not necessarily mean valor or heroism. To be brave is a choice. A choice we must intentionally make. Around us, there are a number of circumstances that want to scare the life out us.

There are about 365 “fear nots” in the bible, one for each day of the year. Because God wants us to choose to be brave no matter what scares us.

When you go upstream against the currents of fear, know that you have a choice to be brave, more so because God says so.

Joshua 1: 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

5- To Be Intentionally Thankful

The trick to being thankful is to open your eyes to the moment, to appreciate what is right in front of you. You can choose that lifestyle. Be intentionally thankful for your life.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5: 18

6- To Live Intentionally for God

Living for God requires some intentionality. Like Daniel, like the three Hebrew boys, we must make an intentional choice to live for God. We must constantly make choices that will bring him glory.

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Daniel 1: 8 

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