I love January 1 for the same reason I, for the most part, love Mondays. A clean page, a fresh start, a new beginning. The Sunday before New Year’s Day, our minister mentioned resolutions as a passing thought in his message. He said how in their home they had talked of resolutions and wondered what was the point, because for as good as it all sounded, it was hard to keep them for much longer than a few weeks. I thought of the word that had been tumbling through my mind the last while. “Intentional.” 

I had been dealing with hip pain the last several years. It wasn’t so noticeable in my day to day comings and goings but when I sat for too long, my leg would start to ache, increasing in pain until I walked around. I mostly noticed it while driving long distances. I had begun to think there was something seriously wrong with it until one day I came across an article online about how we tend to store grief in our hips, which in turn can lock the hips tight for years to come.

I began to fast and not only do exercises to open my hips, but also started walking intentionally. I had been into speed walking which had shortened my stride and changed my gait. I began lengthening my stride with intention, focusing on getting that rhythm back to let my walking have the effect it should. As I purposely did these things, making time for them, it wasn’t long until my hip pain began to lessen and finally go away. 

I questioned myself. How would this coming year look if, although I would still have New Year’s resolutions, that my biggest resolution would be to live life intentionally? Huge pathways in my mind opened up as I began to see all the areas it could go down.

First and foremost, Christian life. If I lived for God intentionally, the attractions, fads, and fashions of this world, although still there to tempt me, could not draw me away. My mind and heart would be intentionally set on God and I would not merely drift along, an easy prey for the evil one. Peer pressure and the lines my peers might cross would be of no importance to me because my eyes would be intent on my goal. My Bible reading and prayer life would be of utmost importance if I lived for the Almighty intentionally. 

In the rest of my life, my health would be a priority to me if I was intentional about it. I wouldn’t find myself floundering with yet another piece of bread, another slice of pie, or another second helping. I wouldn’t eat right one day and splurge the next with no real self control. My eyes would be fixed on how I wanted to feel. Exercising daily wouldn’t be negotiable. No longer would I be pushed inside by the intense cold or dragged down by the summer’s heat. I would see what I wanted long term and do it.

The birthdays on my calendar wouldn’t go unnoticed, disregarded, or left to wonder why I even had them there. There would be cards and gifts purchased, texts sent, and best wishes given. I would plan parties in advance before it passed by and validate the blessing of having that person in my life.

If I were to live this year intentionally, how different would my heart be? Would I allow the things of life to drag me down? Would someone’s uncaring heart be able to harden mine? Would the devil be able to even claim the tiniest portion of my heart? 

Would my phone take up less of my time? Would I have more space for the people I love? Would I grind more ancient grains for baking? Would my heart reach out to those around me—intentionally? Would my needs be less and the needs of others more? Would others come first more naturally?

Living life intentionally. What a beautiful thought. How different this old world be if each one of us decided to live intentionally this year. I’m beginning to think that instead of New Year’s resolutions which can so easily fade, we should instead decide to live intentionally. Because when I purposely do something, all of life changes. Horizons broaden. Opportunities open up. Ideas form. But most of all, Christian life seems not only doable, but exciting. Following God with purpose, determination, and prayer. No longer drifting along, but seeing the way ahead, the goal I want to reach, and following my Lord with intention. Who wants to join me?