The Pursuit Of The Well

More Than Intentional

August 21, 2026

Something I’ve been shifting my mindset on lately is intentionality.

Intentionality in my faith, fitness, job, health, family, friendships…you name it.

For a long time, I think I lived with this mindset of, “If God wanted to, He would.”

And sure, that’s true. I mean, He’s God. He quite literally can do whatever He wants.

But lately, the Lord has been showing me that there is a difference between trusting Him and using “trust” as an excuse to sit still.

I know I’m not the first person who has been in a relationship or friendship where it felt like I was doing all the heavy lifting. Being the only one to reach out. The only one making plans. The person everyone called when they needed something, but somehow never heard from otherwise.

It was exhausting.

And through some very gentle conviction, the Lord started showing me that there have been seasons where that’s exactly how I treated my relationship with Him.

I called when I needed something.

I prayed when life got hard.

I wanted direction when I felt lost.

I wanted Him to open the door, answer the prayer, fix the situation, give me peace, show me what was next.

But how often was I intentionally seeking Him?

Not what He could give me.

Not an answer.

Not a sign.

Just Him.

That realization hit a little harder than I expected.

But as I’ve been thinking about intentionality, the Lord has started showing me another side of it too.

One that I think I needed even more.

Before I ever became intentional about Him, He was intentional about me.

Our LifeGroup recently started studying identity and what it actually means for our identity to be found in Christ. And even though “identity in Christ” is something I’ve heard probably a thousand times, I’ve realized I’m not sure I’ve always lived like I actually believed it.

Because if I’m being truthful, I can turn just about anything into something I have to earn.

Be better.

Pray more.

Read more.

Serve more.

Do more.

Try harder.

And maybe then I’ll be close enough to God. Maybe then I’ll be who He wants me to be. Maybe then I’ll feel worthy of what He’s called me to.

Except that’s not the Gospel.

Maybe that’s what I’ve been missing.

I was never working toward being chosen.

I already was.

Before I ever had the chance to prove myself, God had already decided that I belonged to Him. His word tells us that before the foundation of the world, He chose us and, through Jesus, adopted us as His own.

Chosen.

Adopted.

There is something about those words that I haven’t been able to shake.

Because adoption is intentional.

You don’t accidentally adopt someone.

You choose them.

You make room for them.

You give them your name.

You bring them into your family and say, You belong here.

And God did that with us.

He didn’t just save us and send us on our way. He brought us into His family. He gave us a new identity. We don’t have to spend our lives wondering if we are wanted, if we belong, or if we’ve finally done enough to be called His.

We already are.

Before I accomplished anything for Him.

Before I served Him well.

Before I had a consistent prayer life.

Before I read my Bible every day.

Before I got anything right.

Before I could ever do a single thing to earn it.

He chose me.

I think I’ve spent a lot of my life believing that intentionality meant trying harder for God. And lately, I’m realizing maybe I’ve had it backwards.

I’m not intentional with God so that He will choose me.

I can live intentionally because He intentionally chose me first.

I don’t open my Bible every morning hoping I’ll finally become worthy of being His daughter. I open it because I am His daughter, and I want to know my Father.

I don’t pray so He’ll love me more. I pray because I have access to the One who already loves me completely.

I don’t obey because I’m scared He’s going to take His love away if I mess up. I obey because the God who chose me knows what is best for me.

And I don’t have to spend my life proving that I deserve a seat at His table.

He gave me one.

I think that’s what the Lord is teaching me about intentionality right now.

Yes, I want to be intentional.

I want to intentionally seek Him. Intentionally spend time in His Word. Intentionally pray. Intentionally steward the life He’s given me. Intentionally love the people He has placed around me.

But I don’t want any of those things to become another attempt to earn something Jesus already paid for.

Maybe you need that reminder too.

You don’t have to convince God to want you.

You don’t have to work hard enough to earn your place in His family.

You don’t have to perform your way into an identity He has already given you.

Before you ever chose Him, He chose you.

Before you ever pursued Him, He pursued you.

Before you could ever do anything to deserve the title, He called you His.

You weren’t accidentally included.

You were intentionally adopted.