Last week I wrote a blog titled: Yesterday, today, and tomorrow…learning to create an intentional life. I promised you this week we would tackle the things that keep us from creating an intentional life.
Here are a few of the things I think we should talk about:
- Letting go of the past
- Forgiveness
- Identity- low self-concept (The ideas that I am not good enough)
- Busyness (The illusion that we are accomplishing something)
- Lack of goal setting & direction
- Fear of failure & rejection
- Intimate relationship with the God and others
In the book, “Intentional Living: Choosing a Life That Matters” John Maxwell writes:
“If I wanted to make a difference… Wishing for things to change wouldn’t make them change. Hoping for improvements wouldn’t bring them. Dreaming wouldn’t provide all the answers I needed. Vision wouldn’t be enough to bring transformation to me or others. Only by managing my thinking and shifting my thoughts from desire to deeds would I be able to bring about positive change. I needed to go from wanting to doing.”
We find the truth of intentional living in God’s word.
What area of your life do you need to take action on to create an intentional life?
Below are 25 of my favorite scriptures for intentional living.
Be encouraged today!
Letting Go of The Past:
Isaiah 43:18-19 ESV
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Philippians 3:12-14 ESV
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Forgiveness:
Mark 11:25 ESV
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Ephesians 4:32 ESV
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Matthew 6:15 ESV
But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Low Self-Concept/Identity:
Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Busyness:
Ephesians 5:15-17 ESV
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Matthew 6:33 ESV
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Lack of Goal Setting:
Proverbs 21:5 ESV
The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.
Philippians 3:13-14 ESV
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
2 Chronicles 15:7 ESV
But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”
Habakkuk 2:2-3 ESV
And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.
Fear of Failure & Rejection:
1 Chronicles 22:13 NIV
Follow God’s commands and He will give you success; do not be afraid.
2 Chronicles 20:20 NIV
Have faith in God and he will bring you success.
Proverbs 2:6-8 NIV
He plans success for the decent and honorable; he guards the course and protects the way of his faithful ones.
2 Chronicles 26:5 NIV
He sought the Lord, and God gave him success.
Deuteronomy 20:3-5 NIV
Do not be afraid, for God goes with you to give you victory.
Intimate Relationship w/God & Others
Revelation 3:20 ESV
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
John 3:16-17 NIV
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 15:13 NIV
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Janet from FL
March 21, 2017I have been working on living intentionally too. Part of that is memorizing Scriptures. I have memorized Hebrews 10:24-25, but I also love Philippians 3:12-14…”forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead…” I need to add that to my verses to memorize. Thanks for sharing these encouraging Scriptures! (I found you at http://www.PurposefulFaith.com)
Angela L Craig
March 22, 2017Thank you for stopping by today Janet! Blessings to you!
K.johnson
December 30, 2017I wrote down a lot of these scriptures and posting to my wall as a constant reminder for my next chapter. Thank you so much for blessing me
Angela L Craig
May 9, 2018I am grateful! Have an incredible day!
Pastor J.C. Seward
December 18, 2018Very helpful!
Angela L Craig
January 20, 2019I am so happy it is helpful! I know it helps me!
Iyidele Sunday oluwagbenga
November 6, 2022Thanks for this scriptures. Am on a project on living an intentional life. With Matthew 7: 7-12 as scripture. I think it can be looked at
Jeni
December 31, 2018I just stumbled across your blog while searching for intentional Bible verses. I’m choosing “intentional” as my word for 2019 and I love your posts!! Thank you for sharing!
Angela L Craig
January 20, 2019I am so glad it was helpful Jeni. You may also like our Facebook community at Pursuit Church Live. It is pretty cool and encouraging!
iplschedule2k19.blogspot.com
March 11, 2019Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as I provide
credit and sources back to your blog? My blog
is in the exact same niche as yours and my
visitors would truly benefit from some of
the information you present here. Please let me know if this ok with you.
Many thanks!
Angela L Craig
April 4, 2019Not at all! Go for it!
Nicole
January 2, 2020Wanted to let you know how helpful this post was for me! I’m choosing “intentional” as my word for 2020, and Ephesians 5:15-17 is exactly what I was looking for as my scripture for the year. So, thank you! I’ll definitely be sticking around to see what else I can gleam from your blog! Happy New Year!
Angela L Craig
January 27, 2020Thank YOU for reading and taking the time to let me know it helped. Happy New Year to you Nicole!
T. Buchanan
May 15, 2020Bless you, for this article, I’ve been in this season for a little while now and everywhere I turn I see or hear the word INTENTIONAL, I love how as I read this article these points were ones I could really relate to!
James Croone
August 29, 2022Great article, Angela!
Jacquie
January 1, 2023Thank you for your blog!!!! My word for 2023 is “Intentional “. Happy new year!
Angela L Craig
February 23, 2023I love that!Enjoy