Matthew Starner

John C. Maxwell is one of my favorite authors. His insights on church leadership and ministry are great. I’ve been re-reading his “17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player” again. I pick it up from time to time just to make sure I’m on the right track or not forgetting something.

Today was all about intentionality – making certain that even the little things you do count. Do you want to be more intentional? to make every action count? Here’s what you need to do:

1. Have a purpose worth living for. Willis R. Whitney, General Electric’s first research director said “Some men have thousands of reasons whey they cannot do what they want to, when all they need is one reason why they can.” If you don’t have a strong sense of purpose, you can’t be intentional.
2. Know your strengths and weaknesses. If you know what you do well, you can direct your time and energy in an intentional way.
3. Prioritize your responsibilities. Once you know the ‘why’ of your life, the ‘what’ and ‘when’ become easier. Thoreau once said “One is not born into the world to do everything, but to do something.” Know your priorities and work according to them continually.
4. Learn to say no. This has been something that I’ve personally struggled with, at least when it comes to ministry. I have to remember the previous point – that I’ve not been placed here to do everything. And at those moments when I’ve tried to do everything, I just end up doing things poorly and that’s not what God deserves.
5. Commit yourself to long-term achievement. Yes, we’d all like to win the lottery and have that one-time instant gratification, but most victories in life are achieved through small, incremental wins sustained over time. Being willing to dedicate yourself long term to the process of achievement, instead of instant rewards, will enable you to be more intentional.

Intentionality isn’t just a quality of a team player, it’s also one of Journey’s core values. So, how is Journey doing? Are we being intentional in all the little things? Our purpose is to help people take their next step toward Christ. Are we doing that? Leave a comment and let me know – I’d love to hear from you!