Five Ways to Avoid the Common Pitfalls of Complacency

To live intentionally is to know what you’re supposed to be doing and why, and then do it every day – consistently.

I think we all have to watch for things that can be distractions. By my very human nature I am a Martha, a doer, one who’s always busy. Though I’m not easily distracted from my daily tasks, I’m one of those people who always get great ideas but they don’t always fit God’s plan for my life. I’ve had to learn to detect when I’m getting off track so that I don’t waste time with unnecessary activities but live intentionally and purposefully.  I keep certain protective practices in place in my life to help me do this.

Here are five simple ways I stay focused, live intentionally, and keep myself from getting derailed from God’s path.  I think they will work for you too.

1. Live like Mary, who made an intentional decision to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His Words before anything else that needed to be tended to or that she might have wanted to do.  No matter what else is going on take some time to give the Lord your undivided attention in prayer. Not only does this include praying for your desires and interceding for others but it also includes coming into the Lord’s presence to fellowship with Him and have relationship with Him through worship and adoration. This will not only draw you closer to God but the Holy Spirit will be able to continually expose those things in and around you that would try to pull you away from God’s purpose and plan for your life.
2. Make a plan for your life. Anything done (or not done) consistently has the power to change your life, for good or bad. Having no plan is a plan to fail. Though only God knows what the future holds we can plan our days, our weeks, and our lives according to the things that we know He has called us to do. Setting simple goals leads to accomplishing larger ones. For example if you want to lose weight you have to plan to eat right and exercise each day. Days turn into weeks and weeks to into months, and then before you know it your goal is accomplished. This type of planning is the same for every area of life. If you want to have a prayer life you have to make a plan to pray each day and intentionally stick to it. Take time to write out some of your goals and then make a plan to work on them intentionally and consistently.
3. Know your weaknesses – You have to know yourself in truth, this means your strengths and your weaknesses. Weaknesses are not only the things that distract you but the things in your carnal nature that easily beset you. Whatever draws you into your flesh or draws your attention away from God are hindrances to your God-given purpose.  The Bible says, “Sin shall not have dominion over you” (Romans 6:14). Know your weaknesses in the flesh and be prepared with a plan to deal with them when they come knocking at the door of your carnal nature so they don’t overthrow the spiritual you.  
4. Remind yourself often of God’s promises and plans for you. Meditate on and rehearse in your mind the things that God has spoken to you. Read His Word daily with the intent of believing it about yourself. Remember that you are who He says you are and you can have what He says you can have. You have a right to receive everything the Bible declares Christ died and rose to give you.
5. Have Mentors and Accountability  – A mentor is a trusted counselor or guide, not necessarily a friend but it is nice if you get  a friend and a mentor in one person. A motivator is a person who has positive influence on you and infuses you with added the motivation, desire and enthusiasm to do better, be a better person, and achieve your dreams. This can be a spouse, friend, mentor, pastor, or even people who influence from afar like ministry speakers, authors or teachers. We all need mentors and motivators in our lives to help keep us on the right path, to show us better ways of doing things so we can avoid unintentional mistakes, and to fuel us with the added desire to keep going toward our dreams.

Beloved, I pray if you haven’t already, that you will put these protective practices in place in your own life and live intentionally with purpose and focus.

Blessings be upon you,

Krista: follower of Christ