Déjà Vu Two

Last week I shared about how I’ve been seeing the same thing. And it’s because I’ve been stuck in the crazy cycle of doing the same thing and getting the same result: nothing and nothing. During the last couple of months of 2022, God kept highlighting the word intentional to me. I knew that if I was ever going to accomplish anything that he had asked of me and if I was ever going to complete my own to-do list, I would have to apply myself to living it out.

As I mentioned in part one (go back and read it if you haven’t), I like to have a verse or example from Scripture as a focus for my One Word Resolution (for two years now, I’ve gotten two words instead of one; another déjà vu). After sitting before my altar (the corner of my room where I intentionally pray and study at times), I prayed for revelation.

I sat there thinking about what verse or person in Scripture could paint a picture of intentionality to me. And then Ezekiel came to mind. I was trying to conceive what about his journey would illustrate this point as I flipped my Bible exactly to a marker I already had in the chapter. I read for a little but knew that I had seen chapters in the low 30s when God pointed out the book, so I turned there. It wasn’t long before something else leapt off the page. Over and over after scrolling through chapter after chapter I saw this similar phrase: “Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

The nations were once again in deep waters, and God’s judgment and destruction was upon them. He was specific about what He would do to each one for their deeds. What came to me was that God does what He says He’s going to do. He’s intentional about it. I was curious to find out if those educated Bible scholars had discovered the theme of intentionality in the book of Ezekiel too. When I flipped to the introduction, here’s what I found:

The best picture of intentionality was God Himself. And apparently, out of all the other books of the Bible, the scholars thought Ezekiel had championed the illustration. The point I gathered from this brief synopsis was this: “What God intentions to do from beginning to end, He does and He will.”

Intentional – done on purpose, deliberate, planned, intended.

As I considered the fate of the Israelites, I saw my two words at play. God was going to judge them. They would suffer for their sins. But He was also going to restore them. He would also have compassion on them and sustain them during His judgment. He would be intentional about His discipline as He would be steady in His love so not to consume them.

Curious about what this means for me? Or what nugget of truth God could be showing you through my pending journey? Here’s a few conclusions I’ve drawn even though I don’t see the full picture just yet.

First, as last year drew to a close, I knew I wanted to be more intentional in my walk with God. I had a verse for this too: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these other things will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). I was floundering (read all my previous blogs) in so many things and wanted a mind shift. I wanted to think of God first. Live for Him first. Honor Him first. And put Him first before everything else that was consuming my life so that it wouldn’t anymore. I wanted to be a daughter that is fit for a King. And I wanted to carry out my royal duties from on high as He had asked me to.

From another conversation with a brother of mine (again, notes I had kept), I uncovered the ways I would need focus. And that was to be intentional about my thoughts, my actions, my words, my peace, and my time. It’s difficult to carry out something when you don’t know what you’re supposed to do. Especially when you have the weariness of the day upon you. So, as I had written so many other things, I needed to write what I would do with my time and when with the goal of seeking God first and accomplishing His will. When I do, I believe another of His purposes will stand: “Then they will know that He is the Lord.”

...intentional about my thoughts, my actions, my words, my peace, and my time

The last thing I’ll share as it relates to my word work is this: Whatever God has intentioned of and for us, He will see it through to completion. As He said, we are His workmanship, His handiwork, His masterpieces. And He didn’t just save us to put us on shelves for His admiration. He saved us that we might do the good works He prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:8-10). If He must use mountains and rods for us to do them, He will. He’ll do so with His steadfast love and peace enabling us.