Intentional - A Fasting Devotional

From Claudaniel Fabian

As I prayed about today’s devotion, the last day of the day, this word rang in my heart. Intentional.

If we are going to be a people who regularly proclaim the Good News to others, we will need to do so intentionally. 

Often I  think about sharing the Gospel with friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers.  But, the day, the week, even the month(s) will go by and I haven’t done it.

Why? Because, I hadn’t intentionally set out to proclaim the Good News to them. I believe the Lord wants us this year to be intentional to pray for and plan dates and times to share our testimonies and the Gospel to those the Lord placed on our hearts. 

Of course, we must also take advantage of unplanned, spontaneous moments - times where we have got to go with the flow, follow the Spirit, and share our witness with courage as opportunity presents itself. 

But I believe to even do that well, we must be intentional to pray every morning to be ready to witness as led by God’s Spirit. Even so, I believe that thing that God is putting his finger on is the intention to pray and plan to best witness to specific individuals and at specific events. 

In Luke 10:1 (NLT), it says that Jesus sent out the 70 “to all the towns and places he planned to visit.” 

I find it so interesting that Jesus had planned where He wanted to go; he was intentional in his proclamation of the Gospel. I sometimes have this idea that being led by the Spirit, as Jesus clearly was, is exclusive to in the moment scenarios and opportunities. A kind of blowing in the wind as led by the Spirit wherever he wants to go. 

But, I’m reminded that God clearly plans and executes, and will communicate those plans to us to follow. In this case, Jesus not only sent the 70 to where he planned to go, but he gave them specific instructions as they go. (He did similarly to the Twelve in Matthew 10). Jesus is intentional about proclaiming the Good News, and invites us in his plans. We too can submit our plans to Him and set out intentionally to do God’s will (Proverbs 16:3, 9). 

I can recall times that I have gone out to the park evangelizing, mall evangelizing, or called up family/friends to witness. I had done so by praying and planning a time to do so. I was being intentional. 

However, there have been plenty of times that I have had fleeting thoughts of witnessing to others, but I never did. Why? Fear. Hesitation. Doubt. Procrastination. Etc. The antidote is being intentional. 

Times of good ideas without action must now be put behind us. It’s time to be intentional to pray for attentiveness, faith, and courage everyday to take advantage of opportunities as they come. 

It’s time to be intentional to stay close to the Spirit throughout the day for consistent faith and courage. It’s time to be intentional to daily choose Christ and his Gospel over other people’s acceptance and favor.

Times are growing darker. I believe that without being intentional to take action and share the light of Christ with others, many will unfortunately be lost. 

Take a moment to let that sink in, not for condemnation but for motivation. 

In 2021, let’s be intentional to shine the light of Christ and proclaim him boldly and lovingly. 

Let’s pray for it, plan it, prepare for it, and proclaim the Good News. Amen.