I used to love watching Bob Ross, the painter on PBS who loved squirrels.
I think it was a nice way of telling people who were painting along with him that the happy little tree they just smudged could be fixed.
But I think too many people move through life with that attitude, hoping happy accidents will get them to their destination. Since we believe in the sovereignty of God and how he can work all things out for good (Rom. 8:28), we trust him in our mistakes. But we should not rely on those mistakes for our progress.
To me, that means we should not live our lives in the delusion that we will get from point A to point B by fate, luck or chance. While the road between point A and B will likely be bumpy with many detours, if we want to get somewhere, we have to have the intention to do so.
What do I mean by intention?
I crafted a definition of intention based on two Greek words:
- Epithumeo: to desire greatly; to lust, covet; to set one’s heart upon
- Ennoia: a person’s attitude, way of thinking, feelings; one’s will
Based on these two words, living intentionally means to live passionately, setting your heart on whatever your thoughts, feelings and will are positioned with or next to.
If we do a quick self-inventory concerning what we live intentionally for, we will probably come up with several answers—some good, some not.
For example, as followers of Christ, I would hope we are passionately seeking to position our hearts, thoughts and feelings with or next to Jesus. There are other good things like our families, serving at church, community involvement or a hobby.
Then there is the other side: Are we passionate about and positioning ourselves next to those things that do not draw us closer to Jesus? Insert a great example of sin or even something not sinful that wastes our time and energy (i.e. doomscrolling) so we are not focused on Jesus.
That brings us back to intention. To be intentional with our lives, we need to position our thoughts, feelings and will next to what we want to passionately pursue. In other words, we cannot rely on happy accidents, but we must approach every aspect of our lives with thoughtfulness and passionate intention.
A gold medal example
Let me use an illustration. Earlier this year, the 2026 Winter Olympics took place. We watched elite athletes from all over the world strive for gold across 116 team and individual events (I had to look that up). These athletes demonstrate laser-focused intention. Many have been training in a particular discipline since they were children.
While watching the interviews, one theme came out from the various athletes. Each lives a life dedicated to their sport. Early morning training sessions, multiple hours practicing, specialized diets to optimize their body’s ability to perform, coaching, repeated competitions and even seeking out sports psychologists to ensure their mental game is as strong or stronger than their physical one.
Why? Because these athletes live with the intention to become Olympic champions.
Unfortunately, for each event, only one athlete wins a gold medal. This reminds me of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9:24: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” This is the Bible teaching us to live with intention.
What does that mean in our lives on a daily basis as followers of Jesus who care for our families, go to work, pay bills, cook dinner, serve at church and so much more?
Short answer: Let’s DO something!
Do something on purpose that will help you move toward your God-directed, Spirit-empowered, Word-of-God-informed goals.
Let’s dig into what that might look like today.
Do something to grow spiritually.
There is not one person reading this, or writing this, who does not need growth in some area. The most important area for growth in all of us is to grow spiritually, i.e. to grow to become more like Jesus!
Romans 8:29 states, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”
To be conformed into the image of Jesus is to be fashioned like Jesus. We become more like Jesus as his Spirit works in us through the spiritual disciplines. The more time we spend with God in the Word, in prayer, in fasting and in service, the more we become like him and able to live the life he created us to live. Spiritual growth is not an accident. We must be purposeful about spending time with God. Do something this week to grow spiritually.
If you’re not reading your Bible and praying every day, then start. If you’re already in the Word and praying daily, take it a step further. Keep going, asking God what you could add to your life of spiritual discipline to help you grow closer to him. Perhaps you incorporate fasting or an act of service inside or outside the church. Maybe it’s time to take a step of faith and obedience to something new God is calling you to do.
What it boils down to is that you and I have to be intentional about our spiritual growth.
Do something to be healthy.
As you grow spiritually, you will find that it connects to other aspects of your life. The more time you spend with God, the more he will reveal himself and give you insight into yourself. As such, you will likely discover other places in your life where God wants to work.
That could be an area of personal growth, like tackling an unhealthy habit or another way of becoming more physically healthy. The Lord has convicted me about what I eat and the need to exercise. Maybe it will be something you need to navigate emotionally or psychologically where you could benefit from the counsel of a pastor, Christian life coach or therapist. Whatever the case, you will not get healthy by accident.
I love my daughter, but she is stubborn (not sure where she got that from!). She hates going to the doctor. She had a sinus infection for nearly a month, and she wouldn’t go see a doctor. I kept telling her that it was unlikely to get better if she didn’t do something about it.
That’s the point. Things aren’t going to get better if we don’t take action.
Do something to connect.
Loneliness is a new pandemic in our culture.
Too many people are allowing loneliness to impact their lives without taking an intentional step to correct it.
Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.” There are a number of ways to connect.
Make an effort to connect with other people. Every person needs connection, and we are called to encourage one another and spur one another on to love and good deeds. We cannot do that in isolation, and we cannot overcome isolation without intention.
Do something small.
This is a side note on the things I wrote above and any other area of your life where you want to be more intentional. Start small—you know a journey of a thousand miles and all.
If you have never had a habit of reading Scripture and prayer, commit to a few minutes a day.
If you have never fasted, check with your doctor, and then start with skipping one meal or giving up sugar.
If exercise is new to you, start with a walk.
If getting connected with others is terrifying, start with getting a cup of coffee with someone you already know.
Take a deliberate step, one step at a time, and improve. Remember this: A little progress is still progress!
We won’t get there by accident.
In every aspect of life, we can, should and even must, be intentional.
When we are intentional in our relationships, with God and others, our vocation, our service, our communication and our personal growth, two things happen.
First, God will give us greater clarity about where he is and where he wants to work in our lives, helping us to move from point A (where we are today) to point B (where God wants us to go).
Second, we will find that our days have greater meaning. Instead of meeting each day with an “I hope this goes well” attitude, we will be taking steps toward becoming the people God created us to be.
We will not get there by accident. But through God’s grace and leading, coupled with our intentionality, we will get there.
Jason Starinieri is associate pastor at Stony Brook Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and is the campus pastor for Stony Brook Church in Springfield, Nebraska. He and his wife, Leah, have three adult children. Starinieri is author of Living Intentionally: Living Your Life on Purpose for the Glory of God.
