BE INTENTIONAL: The Power of a Deliberate Choice

Are you busy, or are you intentional? It’s easy to let a to-do list crowd out a divine appointment. From the kitchen to the sycamore tree, this post explores how deliberate choices—like those made by Mary and Zacchaeus—lead to life-changing encounters with Jesus. Learn how to silence the noise and prioritize the "one thing" that is truly needed.

C. Atkinson

9/5/20232 min read

“Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. ‘He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,’ they grumbled.” — Luke 19:6-7 (NLT)

According to the dictionary, to be intentional is to act in a way that is planned, deliberate, or intended. It is the act of making a conscious choice that highlights what truly matters to us. When we live with intent, we bring a sense of divine purpose to our daily lives.

In our previous discussion, "What’s Your Choice?", we explored the weight of our decisions. Today, the challenge is to be intentional, ensuring the results of our choices are pleasing to the Lord.

The Still, Small Voice

I remember a particular Thursday afternoon in my kitchen. I was busy preparing meals for the work week while simultaneously eyeing a mountain of laundry and my unfinished daily devotion. With only three hours until church started, I felt the familiar pull of a "to-do" list. In that moment of multitasking, I heard the soft, still voice of the Lord: “Be Intentional.”

I immediately paused. I chose to leave the laundry for another time so I could prioritize the Word of God. A deep hunger had risen in my soul that made everything else seem secondary.

Choosing the "Better" Part

If we are transparent, we often submit to the "urgent" but less important tasks, missing what is vital for our spirits. We see this in the story of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42). While Martha was distracted by preparations, Jesus reminded her: “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better.”

We see a similar, intentional mindset in Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10). When he heard Jesus was passing through Jericho, he didn't let his physical limitations (his height) or his social reputation stop him. He ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree just to get a glimpse of the Savior. He looked past the crowd and the naysayers to pursue the only thing that mattered.

A Divine Encounter

John 6:44 tells us that no one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws them. As the Lord pulled on Zacchaeus’ heart, he responded with excitement. Jesus looked up into that tree and called him by name: “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

Zacchaeus’ response reveals a life transformed by grace and true repentance. He didn't just offer lip service; he offered restitution, promising to give half his wealth to the poor and repay those he cheated fourfold.

The Potter’s Hand

The Lord never rejects a humble spirit or a repentant heart (Psalm 51:17). We are all "works in progress" in the hands of the Potter. When we answer His call, we must allow Him to mold and shape us into His perfect will, yielding to the small nudges that create purposeful change.

As you go through this week, I challenge you to BE INTENTIONAL in everything you do. When you deliberately choose God over the "laundry" of life, you won't just experience His joy—you may find, like Zacchaeus, that salvation begins to manifest in your home and throughout your entire family.