Intentional Living

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life, because almost everything -- all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure -- these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important." ~ Steve Jobs


As I have read all of the articles and news stories this morning about the death of Steve Jobs, I found this quote of his to be the most interesting. What an amazing man he was. Full of knowledge and insight, but most of all full of vision. He saw the potential of things. He did not necessarily invent things. He took things he saw and turned them into their full potential. He was intentional about how he thought, about how he worked and about how he lived. And in the process, he impacted this world in a way very few people have. In a way that leaves a legacy.


We have that same opportunity. We may not be a genius or even understand technology, but we have the potential to impact the lives and the world around us. We too can leave a legacy. We have the choice every day to live that day with intention and with purpose. And if we know Jesus, we can have the knowledge and the insight. But we also know the One who has the vision. That power and vision is inside of us. We just have to tap into it.


This morning I read this in my devotion: "Be willing to follow wherever I lead. Follow Me wholeheartedly, with glad anticipation quickening your pace. Though you don't know what lies ahead, I know; and that is enough! Some of My richest blessings are just around the bend: out of sight, but nonetheless very real."


We are not promised tomorrow. But we have today and the promise that He knows what tomorrow brings. The choice is ours. Let's begin living intentionally. We can be an intentional friend. We can have an intentional prayer life. We can be an intentional parent. We can make intentional decisions that will impact our todays and bless our tomorrows.


Today, let's remember what is important. We can't control the future. Not for ourselves or for our families or for our friends. But we can control how we think and how we act. We can be intentional with our money, with our words, with our time and with our love.


Choose to look at today and count your blessings. Teach your children to count theirs too. Life is hard and full of unexpected twists and turns, but we know the One who knows how it all ends. Trust Him with that vision and walk in the way He is leading. Be intentional about it.

"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, 

that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; 

therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live." 

Deuteronomy 30:19