One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the delightfulness of the LORD and to inquire in His temple. Psalm 27:4.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
One thing. Live an intentional life. In this is the freedom of My children, an intentional life, not a distracted, encumbered, side-tracked life filled with clutter that never goes forward but remains in the same place for all the years you spend on earth.
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2.
A life run by your feelings will be filled with entanglements and clutter. Emotions are good when channeled correctly. They are part of your unique personality and the expression of a good and loving heart. Emotions that bring compassion and celebration are good but your emotions must be disciplined by your spirit in a direction to help you and others and not to hinder your life’s purpose by every whim and feeling. Emotions, feelings, if not controlled naturally will take you to offense, grief, and depression. That is because of Adam corrupting the seed with sin.
The life of sin is one of the nature of malice and hatred, jealousy and strife. But in Jesus you are born again by the incorruptible seed of My Word and those who find My Word find eternal life, joy, and healing. They find love. And love, perfect love, brings joy. And love is intentional. I am love and I am very intentional. Everything I do is envisioned and planned before I speak it.
You cannot run in every direction and finish your race to receive your crown.
You must have the mind of a champion and not of a grasshopper if you are going to be intentional. Gideon wanted Me to save him from the enemy but when I called him the champion that was in My plan to do it, he told Me he could not do it because he was the least in his family, a man of no stature or ability to go against the enemy. But I told him I would be with him and that would be more than enough to make him a champion that took down the enemy as if by one man. I taught him to be intentional with the instructions I gave him. And I began with cleaning out the clutter in his yard of an altar to the idol Baal and poles of worship to other gods and goddesses. And when he began to clean up his life, change what he said, and do all with My guidance, then he became the champion I called him to be.
The same with Moses. When I told him I had come down at the cries of My people to redeem them from slavery that sounded great to him, but when I told him I would send him to speak to Pharoah and bring My people out of slavery, he essentially told Me he would not and could not do it because he was not significant, not eloquent, and slow of speech. But I told him that I would be with him and that would be enough. If he would give heed, be intentional, and follow My directions then My power would enter in through his intentional release of it into the earth realm and it would come to pass. And he became very intentional for the rest of his life on earth and orchestrated miracles, signs, and wonders that have never happened again. But they could if I can find someone intentional about My plan instead of wandering around all day in clutter, anxiety, offense, and pulled in every direction. I need overcomers who do not stop when their feelings act up. If you wait until you “feel” like it, it will not happen. Intentional living is NOW living not later when the conditions are perfect, you have more time, or a thousand other excuses for staying as you are and never going higher. You have a HIGH CALLING in Christ.
He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap . . . Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening. Ecclesiastes 11:4;6.
If you do the right thing whether you feel like it or not, the right feelings will follow. If you are waiting until you feel like doing the things that I tell you to do in the Bible or by My Spirit in you confirmed by My written Word, and calling that waiting on Me or following the Spirit, you are wrong. The Holy Spirit does not work by feelings but by faith. And faith has nothing to do with feelings. If you know the right thing to do and do not do it you sin. And never say the Holy Spirit inspired you to sin, such as move in with someone you are not married to in order to see if marriage would work out. That does not make it right with Me and your life is NOT intentional to fulfill the plan for your life.
To be intentional you must live in the Light where nothing is hidden in the dark. Born of Adam’s seed you are born into the realm of darkness, but now that you have received Jesus as Lord you are children of the Light, so walk as children of the Light, making the most of your time. If you live in the Light you will walk in integrity for the fruit of Light is all goodness, righteousness, and truth.
Do not turn back to the unfruitful deeds of darkness, if you should quickly bring those things to Me and expose them to My light. All things become visible when they are exposed by the light, and there I can cleanse you of them and direct you in the way to go. Everything that becomes visible is light. Ephesians 5:8-13. Be very intentional about keeping all you think, say and do in My Light.
I am very intentional in what I think, say, and do. I have a plan and a purpose. And the first thing that I said as I made the world and all in it and around it was very intentional, “Light be!” and Light was. Plans begin in the light of My truth not in the darkness of the evil one. My plans are conceived and carried forth in light. Every good thing and perfect gift comes down from above, from Me, the Father of lights in whom there is no shifting shadow. I am light, there is NO darkness in Me at all. My Kingdom is a Kingdom of light. There is no darkness there at all, no hiding place for evil. Goodness is in the Light, always in the Light. My glory lights Heaven and there is only goodness there.
Intentional people must walk in fellowship with Me, and I will explain more on this later in this life lesson, and you cannot say you have fellowship with Me if you are walking in the darkness, that is, doing the works of the evil one which include lying, cheating, immorality, gossip, malice, bitterness, anger, jealousy, and a host of other things that My grace enables you not to do if you will just feed your mind with Spirit food and not flesh food, which also is intentional of what you listen to, allow your mind to dwell on, and speak out of your mouth to yourself and others. You must keep all you allow yourself to dwell upon in your thoughts lined up with My Word, which is power and success. Love is intentional. If you love Me you keep My Word and I come to dwell with you. If you imitate Me as My dear children intentionally, you will walk in the Light as I am in the Light and am Light, you have fellowship with Me and the blood of Jesus continually cleanses you from all sin. 1 John 1:6-7; Ephesians 5:8-13.
I call David a man after My own heart. Why? I gave you the reason, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do My every desire.” Acts 13:22.
David was very intentional about doing My Will completely in his life. Why? He knew that was the way of success, from the hillsides of Bethlehem watching his father’s sheep where he conquered the lion and the bear with Me, to Goliath, and all the years he was chased by Saul, to his glorious reign as king over all Israel and Judah. He ran the ways of My commands and with My help he leaped over every wall and took down every enemy.
David loved My Word, called it sweeter than honey and better then heaps of pure gold. And he counseled you that in keeping My Words there is GREAT reward.
Abraham knew the same and whatever I told him to do he was ready. “Here I am!” Isaiah also, “Here I am, send me.”
And David told you the secret of his skill and his great success in all he put his hand to:
One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the delightfulness of the LORD and to inquire in His temple. Psalm 27:4.
That intent on “one thing” brought him everything, including My promise, which has been fulfilled in Jesus, to make one of his descendants king on his throne forever.
“Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Luke 1:30-33.
And in the last book in the Bible, in its last chapter, second to the parting words of My Son in the Book of Revelation is this, “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” Revelation 22:16.
Intentional people are very important to Me.
And Jesus’ final Word to you in the Bible? A caution to be living intentionally, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Revelation 22:20.
Be intentional, you know not the day or the hour, and blessed are you if I find you busy about your assignment when I come. I will seat you at My table and wait on you. Intentional living as great reward.
But now let us discuss what you should be intentional about. Some people are very intentional and focused on the things that bring earthly gain or fame but these things will burn up as wood, hay and stubble at their judgment for reward and never make the solid gold standard for your crown.
Run your race for the gold. An athlete training for the Olympics is VERY INTENTIONAL about how they spend their days, what they eat, what they do, and they avoid distractions that would make them lose their prize. You should be just as intentional about the anointing. Remember the apostles after the fulfillment of Pentecost and the assignment Jesus gave them to witness starting in Jerusalem, going on the regions around there and then to the entire world? Instead there were many distractions in the early community of believers they were shepherding and there began no small dispute about the daily distribution of food to the community, for all was shared in common and it was taking all their time. So the twelve summoned the community of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:2-4.
This gave an opportunity for the apostles to be intentional in their assignment and the seven selected men to shine in their assignment. The seven went on to work miracles and spread the good news when I sent them out on new assignments once they had learned to serve well. And they shone in their assignment which had been pulling down the apostles into bickering and divisions.
I give each the grace for the assignment that was part of My plan for their lives.
One thing. What is that one thing necessary? When My Son went to the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, Mary valued His presence and put things aside to take the seat of a disciple at His feet and draw in His every Word as valuable to her life. Martha was distracted with the details of hospitality. She was doing it to honor My Son but it kept her from really honoring Him. Do you see? It is important to know what My plan is or you will very sincerely do what you have decided upon and it is not what you should be focusing on at the moment of your day.
Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” You will find that distracted people get overwhelmed and want to pull others into their distractions as well. Be careful about this when friends, family members, or colleagues try to make you put your day on hold to wander about in their distractions with them. I will let you know whether to help them or if it is foolish. Jesus gave that wisdom to Martha and you should take it to heart as well.
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:40-42.
Please note He did not say that was the only thing you should do, but it was the one thing necessary for all that you do.
And My servant Paul, who did many things and had many affairs to tend to in the many churches he planted and the many new believers he was shepherding in the way to live the new life in Christ also wrote of the ONE THING that fuels all the others,
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but ONE THING: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14.
You are running a race to win the crown prepared for you in My Kingdom and your whole life should be centered on the course of your race, not another’s. I join you with people who are part of the project, part of the plan, for My plans are big and wondrous, who are called to join you or whom you are called to join with in running together but you are not to try to take each other’s lanes. Certain leaders called to run together with Moses to the promised land sought to take his lane and that ended their lane completely and took them out of the project.
And that is why you must walk in fellowship with Me and seek My Word early, for you should not be intentional about the world’s plan for your life, which makes you seek only yourself and that will bring you to ruin in the end, but My plan.
If you currently are in a place and a profession that you hate and dread each day, even if you seem very successful in the eyes of the world, that is a very good indication that you are not in My plan. My plan is where your gifts are and there you will be motivated and energized.
You will have trials and setbacks, and if you let your emotions rule, you will draw back and go back to slavery, as the Israelites on the way to the Promised Land tried to do, but overall it is where you will flow in excellence. What is easy for you and you love, say for example, music or art, could be for another sheer torture, whereas mathematics, business enterprises, or a number of other things might be easy for them but torture to you. Make sure you are where I have made you to be so you do not hate your life, but love it. Many people are in professions that the world considers prestigious but they are not happy and hence are not excellent but mediocre in their work, which really cheats those who go to them counting on their expertise. You could be in the wrong lane. The answer is simple, and it is the ONE THING, come and open up the book of your life to Me and let us write it together according to My book for your life. The Holy Spirit will guide you to your lane and lead you on it. Remember, He is your Life Coach.
Get off the encumbrances, the clutter and the many distractions, like the apostles did with the early community of believers. Ask Me for solutions like Moses did when the lawsuits and dissensions and complaints of the people overwhelmed him in the desert. I had the solution and put My Spirit on a whole group of responsible leaders who had listened to My commandments and words, My guidance and miracles, as shown through and taught to them by Moses to help him with the smaller tasks so he was freed to concentrate on My Word and the major issues. He wrote the first five books of the Bible for you and had much to write down for your edification from Me. I even wrote for him and with him. I gave him great revelations and insight into who I AM. I gave him My Name that no one had heard before. He had to be intentional.
One thing, not many things. And what is that one thing? Just what David told you and My Son told you to abide in My Word and to behold My delightfulness, My plans for you are shalom and not evil, to give you a future and a hope, and to inquire of Me constantly.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give constant thanks, this is My Will for you in Christ Jesus. And that is what they are always doing in My house.
My plan is the best plan for your life. I wrote My plan for you before you were born. It is a good and perfect plan. Let the Holy Spirit read it to you as it unfolds each day.
Listen again to the words of the man after My own heart:
The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me. I will bless the LORD who counsels me; indeed, my innermost being instructs me in the night. I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will dwell securely. For You will not abandon my soul to pit nor will You allow Your holy one to see the corruption of the pit. You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalm 16:5-11.
This is a good description of constant fellowship with Me and guidance from Me. And now I am not only at your right hand you are seated at My right hand in heavenly realms with Christ Jesus and I dwell in you by My Holy Spirit. You can be hearing from Me 24/7 with nothing dividing us. This is My gift to you in Jesus.
Be intentional about doing My plan for your life for it is really your road to joy and success and you will find it in My Word. From the time you wake up to the time you lay down at night you should be alert to the plan and alert to distractions, clutter, and diversions that hinder the plan and keep you down from where you should be by this time. Even in the night your heart counsels you if you ask for that when you lay down to sleep. Never let down your guard, Satan is looking for the moment you do, he watches for crying, complaining, bitterness, weakness and in he comes like a flood of trouble and darkness. Stay alert with thanksgiving.
Fan your gift into flame with joyful songs of praise in the Spirit and in the understanding.
I know well the plans I have for your life, do you? Do you even have a plan each day? Or are you living a life of response to circumstances that arise rather than an intentional life of focus on your calling?
Remember the one thing and you will find all things you need for life and godliness.
I love you. Be mindful of Me in all your ways and I will direct your paths. Live the abiding life and you will bear much fruit, fruit that will remain.
O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD. Psalm 15:1-4.