Want a More Purposeful Faith? Dive into This Easy Guide to Christian Intentionality
Ever feel like you’re just going through the faith motions? Is your spiritual life on autopilot? are you stuck in a connection-missing routine rut? We’ve all been there. Life gets hectic, and we feel like we are diverting from our connection to God daily. I know; I myself have felt like that before, too.
If you feel like you are going through a tough season, feeling disconnected from God and from yourself, know it doesn’t have to stay that way. A great tool to reconnect you back to God is Christian intentionality. In this post, I’ll teach you about the pillars of Christian Intentionality and how to apply them to transform your life.
Let’s dive in!
I don’t feel like reading – save me time!
(I get you; I like cutting out the fluff, too : D
- Christian Intentionality means living mindfully, being aware of our true nature, and purposefully glorifying God in every choice. Living a life of Surrender as Christ did (not that easy, I know), reminding yourself it’s not by your own fleshly strength but by the spirit” ‘s strength (phew, way more effortless)
- Living intentionally in a Christian way translates into daily choices that align with God’s teachings, such as renewing our minds through prayer, Bible study, and serving others in small ways.
- This intentionality makes us embody Christ-like qualities in all we do, working honestly, and managing time wisely.
- To live intentionally, we must reflect on our actions, replace worldly lies with truth, and learn the Christian path.
- But how? By focusing on connection—prayer, meditation, the Lord’s teachings, sabbath moments -surrendering, and actions on a firm foundation.
What is Christian Intentionality?
Christian Intentionality is all about living mindfully and with purpose.
Christian Intentionality means living mindfully, being aware of our true nature, and having a purpose to glorify God in every choice we make. Living a life of Surrender as Christ did (not that easy, I know), reminding yourself it’s not by your own fleshly strength but by the spirit” ‘s strength (phew, way more effortless)
Living with intention, as Christians, sets our priorities straight because we know our main goal: glorifying God by living from the spirit. This understanding shifts how we see things and choose our paths in life.
Christian intentionality involves conscious decisions to follow Christian principles and purposeful living.
Being mindful of how our beliefs translate into purposeful actions.
Then, Christian intentionality is synonymous with a growth journey. It’s not a straight path and will look different for each of us. It’s about continuously connecting, reflecting, and making mindful choices guided by our faith.
Every step taken and every decision made becomes part of a larger mission to live out ( reflecting as a byproduct) the love and wisdom of God.
Why is a Christian intentional life important?
Living intentionally is a key component of being a Christian, the opposite of moving through worldly motions. It helps us walk worthy of our calling, renew our minds, work diligently, and manage our time effectively. These principles underpin spiritual growth and enable us to navigate the complexities of life with discernment.
Living intentionally is the essence of a spiritual Christian path.
Spiritual intentionality is essential because it helps you live out your faith with clarity and commitment. It ensures that every choice reflects your values as a follower of Christ.
It also helps us to walk in alignment with our calling as we serve others with love.
Ready to start actually BEING an Intentional Christian? Grab my Christian Intentionality Guide, and let’s get started!!
Pillars of Christian intentionality
So what are some of the pillars of Christian Intentionality
1. Connection above tradition
Prioritizing connecting with God throughout each day does not have to look in a specific way, but it’s important to keep a daily conversation with God.
Remember, without connection, any religious checklist will be void of meaning and authenticity.
connection above perfection
But “I’m not focused enough, disciplined enough, or worth…..” Remember…
A Christian intentional path does do not mean a faultless path; it does not require perfection but mercy, including self-mercy at our mistakes- which is different from complacency. Self-mercy leads to love and love to soul realignment and genuine growth.
If the Lord can be merciful to you, you can be merciful to yourself and others. When you get off track, Love yourself back to the path.
2. Know the path
An important step is knowing Jesus’ commands, a simple but often forgotten pillar. Beyond associating Christ with the big cultural traces of peace and love, it’s about asking ourselves: Do we know most of his commands beyond the love of your neighbor as yourself?
If we don’t, that is fine, but we need to take action to change that. One key component of a Christian’s intentional life is studying the words of Jesus. Taking time to learn and internalize Christ’s teachings, way of life, and wisdom instructions is the foundation of an intentional Christian life.
3. Renewing our minds
Renewing our minds is like updating the software in our brains.
As I see it is: Clearing the software of bugs and viruses that have found their way where they do not belong.
It means pushing out deceiving worldly thoughts and filling up with God’s truths from the Bible. Think about it as swapping old, torn clothes for new ones that were CUSTOM-MADE!
Renewing our minds involves meditating throughout the day, thinking deeply about what God says is accurate, affirming his truths over lies we may believe, and asking God to lead us daily.
From my own journey, I’ve learned that changing my thoughts isn’t easy (actually, it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced) but super important for living an intentional life. Letting God’s words replace any worries or lies you might believe is FUNDAMENTAL to live like Christ.
This practice can make you more peaceful and purposeful. Imagine starting each day from a spiritual perspective; everyday life hurdles become smaller!
READ MORE >>> ➜➤ → How I’ve Adopted a Transcendent Life Lens
4. Being intentional with our time
Intentionally managing our time is essential for nurturing a purposeful Christian life. The Bible emphasizes the significance of wise time usage and its precious nature.
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:15-17
In the grand scheme of things, considering the short nature of the average lifespan (Psalm 90:12), every moment holds significant value.
Being mindful of our Christian identity also extends to how we allocate our time daily, setting intentional moments for prayer, Bible reading, and contemplative reflection. I know this can get extremely challenging with busy schedules, but it’s always possible to find time to spend with God; quality, not quantity, can make all the difference.
If you want to implement spending more time with God though you probably already have a jam-packed schedule –
CHECK OUT THIS POST ➜➤ → 7 Ways to Spend Time with God with Little Time.
5. A life of Surrender
Christian intentionality is synonymous with a lifestyle of Surrender as Christ did (not that easy, I know -or actually too easy; we like pretending we can do things by ‘our own strength”)
A surrendered life involves understanding that God’s intentions for us surpass worldly aspirations and adopting a transcendent mindset.
Thus, a lifestyle of Surrender means really embodying our servant condition to our Lord, a lord who, unlike worldly lords, is not self-serving but self-giving. He guides us to our transcendent fullness of life and invites us to see our true nature, so we cannot help but have a yearning desire to do the same.
Part of the fundamental basis of Christianity- is giving one’s life to Christ -Surrendering.
However, Surrendering beyond a momentary action is a constant path. It means detaching and letting go of old life ways, worldly rationals, and material attachment, embracing the present moment, and not resisting when God’s will doesn’t align with ours. Do you get the idea?
Surrendering may seem hard, but remind yourself it is not by your own fleshly strength, but by the spirit’s strength (phew, way more effortless).
Practical Ways to Cultivate a Christian Intentional Life
Apart from the ongoing former pillars in our day-to-day lives, we can cultivate intentionality in our faith journey by taking small steps as they lead to meaningful change over time.
1. Connection—prayer, meditation, contemplation
Moments throughout the day to talk to God and moments of silence to listen to God are fundamental for being a follower of Christ.
Quiet daily reflection helps us connect with God, seek His guidance, and find peace. In these silent moments, we often hear His gentle whispers, reminding us of His love and presence.
2.Reflecting on our beliefs and actions
Are you creating a life that is true to your Christian identity?
Considering our beliefs and actions is vital for aligning with God’s teachings and finding purpose. It’s a way to reflect on what matters and where we need to grow.
This could be done through quick life exams before bedtime when waking up or journaling.
3.Learning and meditating on the Lord’s teachings
Reading the Bible, learning its teachings, and meditating on them allows us to understand God and ourselves better. We also gain knowledge of life to better align our thoughts with God’s unchanging truths.
It also helps us understand our identity and learn about God, existence, and life. Making it easier to align our actions with this knowledge.
Learning the word goes beyond memorizing scripture. Though memorizing scripture helps tremendously, it’s about reflecting on it, applying it, and meditating on it as a daily habit.
4.Sabbath moments -surrendering in practice
Oh, accepting the gift of Surrender and rest is so lovely, yet it can seem so tricky.
Having sabbath moments and eventually days is a great way of practicing surrendering in an allotted time, be it 30 minutes or 24 hours, as a way of continuously exercising the muscle of a surrendered lifestyle. In these moments, you should engage in activities of connection, being present, and stopping any busyness or productivity of worldly life. Sabbath moments can then help us exercise the aspect of Surrender mentioned above.
5. Actions- living on a firm foundation.
Living on a firm foundation means taking practical action to build your life on solid rock founded on Christian principles. Accordingly, everything should be filtered and built on these principles, from your budget to your work life to how you act and think when no one sees you.
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24
Living on a firm foundation means planning your goals in advance through the filter of your Christian identity in all areas of your life. You can start by setting clear goals for your spiritual growth and being mindful of how you express your Christian identity in daily actions. (This should be done out of the genuine drive to keep your soul authentic and your connection strong, not for others to perceive you in a certain way.)
Living out your Christianity means following Jesus’s teachings, spreading hope and love, serving others, fellowship, and joining intentional Christian communities, nonjudgment, sacrifice, etc., all stemming from genuine gratitude and overflow. This would practically look like
- Time for you and God.
- Carving the time to serve others, even if in small ways, especially those in need.
- Time for community and fellowship.
By embodying Jesus’s teachings, we become vessels through which His love and light shine into the world.
DON’T FORGET TO DOWNLOAD YOUR CHRISTIAN INTENTIONALITY 101 PRACTICAL GUIDE!
Ready to get started? Don’t forget to download your FREE Christian Intentionality 101 Practical Guide. Put this into practice and get ready to watch the fruits of your faith FLOURISH!
OVER TO YOU…
Choose 1 pillar and 1 practical action to work on this week.
Has this blog post helped you? If so, I’d love to hear about it! Let me know in the comments below.
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Such a good read! Thank you for this post! It definitely breaks things down in a more simplified way for me!
Thank you, I’m glad you found it useful, let me know if you have any questions.
Great post! Even though I wouldn’t call myself a Christian, a lot of the things in this post will definitely help me in life! Thanks!
Thanks so much for your kind words! I’m really glad to hear that the post resonated with you, It’s wonderful when we can find guidance and inspiration that crosses boundaries.