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intentionality

How To Intentionally Lift Your Spirit

by Lauren Koch June 15, 2022

written by Lauren Koch

Take Captive Your Thoughts

What thoughts are you entertaining? How quickly are you willing to submit what passes through your mind to the word of God? If we are not intentional, the enemy uses our mind like a playground for his agenda. In Christ, you are free from this influence. Lift your spirit in the daily practice of becoming aware of what thoughts are in your mind, and aligning them with the truth of God’s word.

^“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

Lift Your Spirit with Worship

As you learn to take captive your thoughts, aligning them with God’s word, a spirit of praise will stir up inside of you. God’s design for us is incredible! Our vision of His beauty and truth in the word brings our hearts to respond with adoration and worship for who He is. Thankfully, we have the power to choose to worship at any time. There are times when worship does not feel “easy” or natural. In these moments, tell your spirit where to go. Meditate on Psalm 96:

Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth!
²Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
    tell of his salvation from day to day.
³Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous works among all the peoples!
⁴For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
    he is to be feared above all gods.
⁵For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
⁶Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Remembering who He is transforms our own perspectives. It lifts our spirits to dwell with Him.

June 15, 2022 0 comments

True Intentionality

by Christian Learning June 10, 2022

written by Christian Learning

Something I’ve been learning about a lot in terms of relationships, is how impactful true intentionality looks like. And I think that, you know, just as life continues on, we realize that our life is going at the speed of light, and so is someone else’s. And so just because I have something going on, doesn’t mean that all the close people around me don’t, or vice versa. I had a friend recently, who’s going through a big life change, a big, exciting life change. And it just hit me a couple of months ago, how intentional she had been in the midst of her huge, exciting season that she’s in. And I texted her and I was like, hey, I just want to thank you for being so intentional with me, for asking me how I’m doing. For remembering the things that are like the things that seem so small in comparison to what she’s going through, and just being like, wow, this is important. And I’m so thankful to have a friend who’s pursuing me the way that she is.

It encouraged me to then, therefore, remember to be that intentional with those around me as well. I think it just like breaks comparison. I think it breaks the comparison of, oh, she’s going through this, she’s going through that. Like I have to be on my own little island and celebrate all the small things on my own or big things on my own, where I think that that’s not how we were created to live. We were created to be going through the big things together with people, and the small things and just doing life. I think that this is just what I’ve been coming back to. Like, life is pretty simple and who can we do the simple things of life with? I don’t want to water down the big moments for people. That’s not what I’m saying. But I think that to find deep friendship and deep community requires us to be intentional in the very simple things of the day-to-day.

So, if this sparks someone in your brain to be like, oh, that’s my friend. I encourage you to reach out to them and say, “Hey, thanks so much. I see your pursuit of me, and I’m so thankful for it.” And if this is stirring something inside of you to be that intentional friend, like be it, it’s really beautiful and it can be messy. It doesn’t have to look a certain way, but start to create that rhythm between people that you love and that you want to do life with, because it’s so fruitful and so beautiful. And again, life’s pretty simple. So who can we live the simple ordinary days with? That’s my encouragement to you and my call to you, to just be an intentional friend and love the ones that love you well.

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3 Ways To Cultivate Friendship

by Lauren Koch March 29, 2022

written by Lauren Koch

Sustaining, life-giving friendships don’t just happen. They take vulnerability and intentionality.

We might know this…but it does not change the effort that’s required to make new friends and sustain your current ones. Here are 3 ways to purposefully cultivate friendship.

1. Make yourself available to others

If you have that tug in your heart for deeper community or friendship with someone, tell them! Allow yourself a low-stakes opportunity to invite them to spend time together and express your desires. This isn’t a contract of course, but it does show that you care and are wanting to follow through with actually building something.

2. Commit to consistent plans

Deciding you want to develop a new friendship is one thing, but putting time on the calendar to actually spend time together is another. Choosing a time that you regularly meet can be a helpful way to have time to look forward to. Serve together in your church, attend a class for a shared interest, or even just make a regular coffee or dinner date. As you begin that scheduling, keep in mind how seasons can change.

3. Know your season

As you meet with a peer, set realistic expectations for what you can give and would like from the relationship. Are you looking for someone to pour over the word with? Or really hoping for someone to have fun with? Maybe both. Let that be known. We all need Godly friendships, regardless of what our life happens to look like in a particular season. But realistically looking at your schedule and knowing what you have capacity for is vital to re-evaluate every so often. In short, clarity is everything.

Developing healthy friendship isn’t something you can calculate. But you can start new ones with clarity and peace, knowing you are taking steps into healthy connection that honors God.

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March 29, 2022 0 comments