Why We Need to Live With Intention Right Now
Why We Need To Live With Intention Right Now
Hello, my dear friend, I am so glad to have you back at the kitchen table for a chat. If you are new to the table, welcome, we are happy you are here as well. There is always room for our friends and our new friends at the table. Grab a mug of something warm, pull up a chair and let’s chat. Last year I released a blog entitled Why You Need to Take Courage When You Know the Shift Is Coming. In looking back at that conversation, I felt that some of it was very pertinent for today as well, so to start things off I wanted to review a few points from that blog with you. Following that, I thought that today we would talk about Why We Need to Live with Intention Right Now.
Shift - The Greater Change!
First, let’s chat about the difference between a change and a shift. When I think of change, I think of something that is happening to me, with or without my agreement and/or effort. When I think of a shift, I think of something that is going to require effort on my part and, ultimately, is going to lead to growth. A shift generally requires digging deep for and/or developing a completely new set of skills. Shifts take us out of our comfort zone. They require that we move and think differently. In addition, if we lean into the shift, we will meet the possibility of revolutionary change in our lives. We can decide if those things that are moving in our lives are changes or shifts. Will we let it happen to us or will we consider playing an active role? Change vs. Shift! Shift – the greater change!
Shifting Requires Courage
Courage, like shift, is an active word. It requires us to “venture” which means to proceed especially in the face of danger. (Merriam-Webster, 2019, retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/venture#h1). It requires that we dig in, find our mental and moral strength, and then push ahead towards the shift, even amid the danger, uncertainty, fear or difficulty we are encountering. Courage requires that we decide to stay the course. We know the shift is coming. We know that we know that we know. Now we need to commit to staying the course.
"Final Push" Courage
There is courage and then there is “final push” courage. Courage is what allows you to stay the course through the change and through the shift. “Final push” courage is that courage that allows you to lean in, lean forward and give it your all at that point when you feel like you have nothing left to give. When you have been moving toward the shift for some time and you know you are on the cusp, but you can’t quite see it because of the weariness that clouds your vision and you can’t hear it coming through your own cries of “How long, O LORD?”. But, you know that you know that you know, without a shadow of a doubt that you have come this far and you are going to go the distance. This is “final push” courage. It is the courage that mothers have as they are about to deliver their baby. Long-distance runners and athletes dig in and find this kind of courage when the finish line is close enough to touch. In addition, we, every day, find this courage when we are weary and frustrated but know that we have come too far to give up now and miss the shift.
On The Cusp Of A Shift
These are unusual times. Many people have described them in many ways. My thought, right now, however, is that it doesn’t matter so much how we label them, as long as we recognize that we are in a time where there is a great opportunity for shifting. In this time I believe we will need to decide though, whether we will be changed (willingly or unwillingly) by the situation around us or we will lean in and shift.
There Is A Sound
On March 23rd, as I sat with the Lord I received (in part) this:
“You have the key – open your mouth and release the sound in the atmosphere. There is a lock in the atmosphere that needs to be opened – the keys have already been distributed throughout the earth. It is time to stop knocking when you have the key to open the doors in the atmosphere – open your mouth – speak it and watch the doors swing open.
There is a sound that will unlock the doors of the atmosphere.
My people have gone quiet – open your mouth and release the sound.
Your sound is unique like a unique key. Stop staying “I don’t have.” It has already been put into place – use it. Who, having a key, refuses to use it to open the door in front of them? – you will grow weary knocking. Cry out and let your sound flow – the atmosphere is waiting.
Pastor Siadra of Agape House Church Canada, on April 5th, preached about a Seismic Sound that needs to come forth from the people of God at this time. Hear that sermon by clicking here.
How Will A Sound Go Forth Without A Plan?
If we are being called, in this time to release the sound that is within us to unlock doors in the atmosphere, to lean into the shift, how will we do so without a clear plan? I would suggest that for many of us, for some time, we have been moving forward, perhaps even attempting to release a sound, but in an inconsistent, hit and miss kind of way. Let us be honest. We are busy, we are distracted and we do not always take the time to sit and make intentional plans for our times.
It Is Time For Intention
Intention requires more than a desire to move forward in a particular way (resolve). Intention requires a prioritized and well thought out plan. A plan that is flexible to take a pivot but that is concrete enough that if shared with someone else they could put it into place without too much explanation. “WOW! Really?” you are thinking. That is a concrete plan. Well, here is the thing. We have 24 hours in a day. Work, sleep and basic activities around self-care take up a large chunk of that time. What we do with the time that is remaining has great potential. What often happens, though, is that we fail to understand that what we do not prioritize most often does not get done. Time moves quickly like sand in an hourglass and if we are not intentional about what we want to do with that time, we find ourselves at the end of another day, weary and not much farther ahead. If we would just learn to be clear about where we are heading then we would find it much easier to prioritize what we will say yes and no to, in our lives. When we are clear on our yes and our no, it becomes easier to turn away from those things that will not move us forward in the direction we intend to head.
Going For The Shift - Releasing A Sound
I believe in this hour, to release the sound the Lord has placed within us, we need a two-pronged plan. We need a Vision and a Strategy. Both of these things come to us by spending time in prayer, in relationship with the Lord and with time in the Word. Now is the time to buckle down and go deeper into your relationship with the Lord. For many of us, in this season, we have been given a gift of time at home. That is going to look a bit different for each one of us. However, right off the top, it is an opportunity to make more than a change – it is an opportunity for shifting. Everything has changed, it all looks different, from your roles and responsibilities, to how you interact with others, to how you work and what your finances look like. We could allow the circumstances to change us – panic, complain or just see this as permission to “check out”, all the time acting as if it is all out of our control. Or we can choose to lean in and initiate a shift. Some things are out of our control but some things are well within our control, such as what we choose to do with our time. For some of us, we need to start with some much-needed resting time, family time, and time for reflection. For all of us, quiet time in prayer and devotions should be at the top of our priorities. But what about the rest of the time?
Vision And Strategy
It is time to sit down with the Lord, with a pen and paper, and ask for the Vision and Strategy He has for you in this season
Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” How will you know where to step next if you do not know where you are going? So let’s start by asking the Lord:
1) What are You saying to me at this time?
That is your vision. That is what you will look to each day to remind yourself of where you are going. This is where you will look when you forget what the Lord has promised you and has assured you of. This will be where you will look to keep your eyes on the Lord and the things of the Lord because you are a Kingdom citizen, not a citizen of this world.
Once you have a vision you need to ask for a strategy. The question for the Lord is simple:
2) What would You have me doing in this season?
This is the beginning of your strategy. Once you know what you need to be doing you will make a concrete plan. A plan you can refer to frequently and adjust as necessary.
This Is Intention
This is intention. You have promises, reassurances and a direction. You know where you are headed. You have a plan around what steps need to happen. You have the resolve and you have a concrete plan. You are now ready to begin releasing the Sound that Lord has for you to release into the atmosphere. You will be able to make wise decisions and prioritize your time accordingly. You will not look back at this time and season in your life as a missed opportunity or a time when you were moved by forces outside your control. Rather, you will be able to look back at this time and season as one in which you choose to lean in and shift and release a necessary Sound into the atmosphere.
What I Know
These are unusual times. I believe they are also pivotal times for you and me. Change comes whether we like it or not, but shifting is a completely different cup of tea. We have to choose to shift. When we find the courage and the “final push” courage to do so, our lives will never be the same again.
Once we decide to move with the shift, we must decide to move with intention. No one ever fully shifted who did not have the resolve and vision to do so and a clear plan.
The Lord is so faithful – if you sit with Him and ask of Him, He will give you guidance and direction. I would be so happy if you would commit to starting this process with me. Carve out some time at the beginning of this week and sit with the Lord. Listen to what He has to say to you in this hour.
Until Next Time
Well, my friend, our time has come to an end. My cup is empty and it is time to move on for now. As part of leaning into my shift, I plan to develop some tools in the upcoming days to help you to move intentionally in this hour. I am planning on some material to help you set your vision and begin to plan the strategy the Lord has given you by helping you set some clear and achievable goals. These tools will be available online and free of charge. I am committed to helping you lean into your shift and to release your Sound in this hour.
If you are signed up for blog updates, watch your email for further information in the next week or so. You can also watch my Business Facebook Page for updates. If you like my page and then click follow and see first (all at the top of the page) you will get notifications when I post new information.
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I will also be putting these tools on my website at https://www.lauriehopkins.ca
Your Turn To Comment
If there is anything specific you would like help with, for me to comment on or tools you would like to see me develop, please let me know. You can contact me via any of the means listed below.
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Be In Touch
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Until next time,
From my heart to yours!
Laurie
