“Intentionality” is one of the heralded topics of our generation.

We are told to be intentional with how we spend our time, in our relationships, in our eating, in breaking and forming habits, in the pursuit of our goals, even in our relationship with God.

However, do we apply this principle in our prayers?

Side note: If we think that all there is to life is our being and this body which we see, carry about, nurture & care for, we simply do not value life. I be damned if I thought this wretchedness is all there is to my life.

Do we pray and ‘leave it at the feet of Jesus’ especially when it comes to those vices/ little foxes in our lives or do we apply this same intentionality we undertake in our secular affairs when dealing with the eternal affair that is our soul?

Continuing, the sin that easily besets us, which we are urged in Hebrews to lay aside, do we pray for God to remove it from us? More importantly, when we pray, what steps do we take?

Let’s learn from David:

“REMOVE FROM ME the way of lying: And grant me thy law graciously. I HAVE CHOSEN the way of truth: Thy judgments have I laid before me”

(Psalm 119:29-30).

David probably had a besetting sin of lying like this writer does. We may gild it with terms like ‘exaggeration’, ‘white lie’, ‘selective truth’, ‘diplomatic’ and even wisdom as some may call it but the Bible makes it clear that NO LIAR will get into the Kingdom of heaven (Revelation 21:8).

We can choose to call it fancy terms to please men but God’s way is truth and with Him is no shadow of turning. He is Light through and through.

Now, when we pray for Him to remove lies from us, what active steps do we personally take to remove the sins from us, in David’s case, he chose truth. Not truth as in the opposite of lying but the one found in John 17:17, “Thy word is truth.”

The Word of God, knowledge and obedience to it is the only antidote to a life of lying.

Perhaps your besetting sin is not lying and you cry day and night for God to change you. What have you done after those prayers?

Here is a quick suggestion from Jesus, our Bestie:

“If your right hand causes you to sin, CUT IT OFF AND THROW IT AWAY. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell”

(Matthew 5:30).

If you must go without a phone, a friend, a job… if you must give up companionship and comfort, self-will and ambition; if you must be single for life or be married to save your soul from death, then so be it!

But do not leave this matter to the ‘chance’ of prayer. There is work we must do. It is a battle ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!’ *insert your name*

(Judges 7:20).