Good morning, church family! It fills my heart with joy to welcome each and every one of you here today. I am deeply honored to stand before you and share my love for God and the everlasting hope found in the Gospel. That is the reason we gather to celebrate this living hope and to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.

This morning, we are starting a new message series called “Think Ahead,” inspired by a book of the same name that I recently read by Craig Groeschel. Today's message is titled "Be Intentional," and we will explore the art of decision-making. As we open the Bible together, I pray that we can be fully present and intentional in this moment and every day to come.

Together, let's learn to think ahead and be proactive rather than reactive. This approach will be incredibly beneficial as we aim to make wise, healthy, and God-honoring choices. This topic is particularly important because, more often than not, our actions do not align with our intentions.

Many of you may find yourselves feeling like the apostle Paul who said:

“I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time” (Romans 7:18-20, THE MESSAGE).

For example, some people, like myself, might indulge a bit too much at the dinner table, while others tend to overspend. Of course, I'm not referring to any of you, but rather to those other people we’ve all heard about.

Now, there are those times when many of us say things that we later regret or find ourselves doing things we know we shouldn’t. And so instead of making decisions when we are tired and emotional, we should learn to be proactive and think ahead. By doing this, we can set ourselves up for success by making choices that reflect our best selves, all while honoring God in the process.

As we begin, let's take a look at King David. Now, sometimes, David seems larger than life, making it difficult to compare our lives to his. I know he’s not perfect, but he killed Goliath, wrote many Psalms, and defeated nations. However, you have more in common with King David than you might realize, especially in decision-making. Like you, he had good intentions but didn't always make the best choices.

King David valued his family and close relationships, yet he often avoided conflict, leading to unfortunate consequences. His sincere desire to live righteously was undermined by temptations, especially of a sexual nature. When he stumbled, he chose deception and sought to conceal his wrongs instead of facing the truth. But that didn’t go well for him because the Bible tells us,

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13, NIV).

It wasn’t long before the prophet Nathan came to confront King David. Nathan used a parable to show David the seriousness of his actions. When David heard the parable, he didn't realize it was about him and became furious about the man in the story. Then Nathan revealed to David,

"You’re the man!" (2 Samuel 12:7, NIV).

In other words, you’re the man in the parable, and Nathan goes on to recount David's sins and the consequences that would follow in this powerful moment of accountability before God.

David's sinful choices had big consequences. They not only hurt his marriage but also led to the tragic loss of his child. His actions affected his other kids too, causing them problems. His son Amnon got caught up in his own lust, Absalom started a rebellion against his father’s rule, and then David's worst decision was to take a census of Israel and Judah, which led to the death of 70,000 people. David recognized his mistake and sought mercy, but the burden of guilt greatly affected him, overshadowing his reign. His decisions resulted in a legacy marked by sorrow and regret, highlighting the challenges and complexities of leadership.

However, in spite of David's many shortcomings, God testified concerning him:

"I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do" (Acts 13:22, NIV).

You see, despite his failures and mistakes, David made a conscious choice to prioritize intimacy with God. He recognized the value of being intentional and cultivating a close relationship with the Lord, understanding that such closeness doesn't happen by accident. King David knew that pursuing God required deliberate effort and dedication, and he committed himself to this worthy pursuit.

In my twenty years in ministry, I've never heard anyone say they were filled with the Holy Spirit while binge-watching Netflix or scrolling through Facebook. Nobody has ever claimed they were smoking at the bar when suddenly the Spirit led them to start witnessing to people. I’ve never heard anyone admit to honking the horn and cussing at traffic, only to suddenly begin manifesting the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

No, it doesn’t happen that way. Intimacy with God requires intentionality. Just as in a marriage or any relationship, being close to God doesn’t happen accidentally—it takes time, effort, and dedication.

Let's take a lesson from David on how to plan ahead to get closer to God. In Psalm 27, David talks about his strong trust and confidence in God's protection, even when enemies try to harm him. Despite facing tough situations, David stays confident and says:

"One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple" (Psalm 27:4, NIV).

David doesn’t ask for happiness, wealth, a bigger palace, or world dominance. Instead, he wants to be in God’s presence, experience His glory, and dwell in His temple.

In other words, if given one request, David would choose intimacy with God so that he could hear his voice and have his steps directed by him, because he knew from experience,

"The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand." (Psalm 37:23-24, NIV).

David understood that closeness with God doesn't happen by accident. And so, if you desire a closer relationship with God, I encourage you to make intentional plans to prioritize that relationship. Personally, I set my alarm clock every day for this purpose, and I want to share with you why this practice might resonate with you and inspire you to do the same.

You might wonder why I prioritize spending time with God. The answer is simple: because I need Him. And so, just like David said in Psalm 42:

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" (Psalm 42:1-2, NIV).

I carve out time because I need His comfort, strength, power, wisdom, and Word. My life is incredibly busy, my responsibilities are immense, and I can't manage without His presence. I am desperate for Him, and so I intentionally seek Him first thing in the morning.

Now, I'm not saying this to complain, but as an illustration, because your life might be quite similar to mine. With six children, six grandchildren, and another on the way, things can get pretty hectic. That's my reality, and I rely on God to fight my battles for me. Without His presence, I'd be up all night, stressed out. But He promised:

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14, NIV).

David faced similar challenges. Whether he was running for his life, ruling the kingdom, or fighting battles, he was desperate for God’s presence. And when he was fleeing from his son Absalom who was leading an army against him, David prayed:

"You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you" (Psalm 63:1-3, NIV).

David’s words reflect his deep personal desperation for God’s presence: “I seek you. I thirst for you. I long for you.” This goes beyond friendship; it’s the intimate cry of the soul: “God, I need you today; my whole being longs for you.”

Some of you might say, “I believe in God, but I don’t feel that deep connection.”

If you feel distant from God, it’s likely due to the relentless distractions of life pulling you away from pursuing Him. Many seek fulfillment in careers, achievements, and possessions. However, only God can truly fill the void inside us. We can’t be passive in our relationship with Him; we must consciously and wholeheartedly plan to pursue intimacy with God.

I choose to seek a close relationship with God with intention, passion, faithfulness, and consistency. Inspired by the Scriptures, following David’s example who said:

"In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly" (Psalm 5:3, NIV).

I am actively seeking the Lord, longing for His presence, and craving His comfort and strength to navigate life’s challenges. Like David, I am desperate for God's presence because He is my anchor in the storm and my guiding light in the darkest times.

Number two, I am intentional about seeking God in His Word because having an intimate relationship with God means both knowing Him and hearing from Him.

For example, Dana and I have been married for almost 37 years, and we try to show love to each other not just on Valentine’s Day but every day. And so, to love her and understand her requires spending time together, and since our children don’t go to sleep at night, we have to go out on date nights where we can talk intimately. Sometimes, we simply enjoy silence together, just being still, while other times we engage in deep conversations, but both experiences build our understanding and fuel the love and intimacy we have.

So, how do you get to love and know God? By reading His Word and getting to know Him. The Word of God is a love letter that reveals who He is and what His purpose and will are for you and for us as the body of Christ. We don’t read His Word because we have to; we read it because we want to. In fact, I read it because I’m desperate for it because I always need a fresh Word from God.

In Psalm 19, David used various adjectives to describe the benefits of the Word of God. He said,

"The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb" (Psalm 19:7-10, NIV).

David explains that the Word of God can meet every need. When you are lonely, God’s Word will comfort you. When you are hurting, God’s Word will give you hope. When you are weak, God’s Word will build your faith and give you strength. If you feel lost and confused, he says,

"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path" (Psalm 119:105, NIV).

When you are anxious, restless, and can’t sleep, remind yourself not to be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV).

When ministry has you feeling worn out and thinking that you can't go on, God’s Word tells us not to become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9, NIV).

When you are afraid of what is coming at you, remind yourself that the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7, NIV).

When you feel like you’re stuck in a rut, lift your spirits with the promise that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6, NIV).

When your heart aches because a loved one is in trouble, seek comfort in God, who promises to be our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).

And no matter what life throws your way, you can always declare with conviction that the LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress (Psalm 46:7, NIV).

Whether you realize it or not, you need God's Word. It is sweeter than honey and more precious than gold. You crave it, and I crave it too. Plainly put, I intentionally seek God's presence because I need His strength, wisdom, comfort, and the power of His Spirit. I am deliberate in studying His Word because it convicts me, corrects me, strengthens me, encourages me, gives me wisdom, and guides my steps.

The third intentional practice in my life is meeting with God’s church. I choose ahead of time to prioritize intimacy with God and His Word because I am passionate about His church. The Scriptures show us that David felt the same way. He said,

"I rejoiced with those who said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord.'" (Psalm 122:1, NIV).

Notice what David didn't say. He didn't say, "I rejoice with those who said, 'Let's sleep in today and maybe we'll go to church next week.'" He didn't say, "I rejoice with those who say, 'I am a Christian, but I don't need the church.'" Instead, he said, "I rejoice with those who said, 'Let's go together, as a community, to worship the goodness of God in His temple.'"

We gather because God is good, He is worthy of our praise, and we all have our struggles. I have my own hurts. I don't just need God; I need God through you. I feel the tangible presence of God when we are together as the body of Christ, and I hope that you do too.

In the church, I made new Christian friends and was discipled in learning the Word of God. The church taught me about giving, tithing, and living a godly life. Dana and I were baptized together in the church, and we grew spiritually. All six of our children were baptized and discipled in the church. Our blessings and growth in faith are deeply rooted in the church's influence.

That's why we never ask, "Are we going to church this weekend?" Some of you might think it's because I'm a pastor, but that's not the reason. We go to church because we are Christians. We worship with you because that's who we are, and the church has blessed and discipled my family.

Every blessing in my life can be traced back to God's hand through the church. David spoke about those who gather together to worship saying:

"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God" (Psalm 92:12-13, NIV).

I firmly believe that the greatest blessings of God are found in the Holy Spirit through His people in the Church.

Some of you might say, "I don't have that kind of intentionality," but you can start today. You can think ahead, make plans, and intentionally pursue intimacy with God. Whether you realize it or not, you need His presence, His Word, and His people in the church.

I encourage you to be proactive today. You need God now, and you will need His presence in the future. To achieve this, embrace His presence, be intentional, and make plans to seek Him today. Intimacy with God requires intentionality, saying, "God, I need You. I need Your presence, Your correction, Your conviction, and Your strength. I need Your love through Your people in the church."

Every single moment, whether you are aware of it or not, you are profoundly in need of God’s presence. Can I encourage you to be intentional and not wait for a crisis to come before you seek him. Or don’t wait for tomorrow which may never come. But make the conscious choice, the intentional decision to draw close to Him today.

His presence is the unwavering anchor that holds us steady in the storms of life, His Word is the light that guides our path, and His Church is our beloved sanctuary, our united community of faith and love. And so, let’s steadfastly hold on to these timeless truths as we journey onward with God.

Graphics, notes, and commentary from LifeChurch, Ministry Pass, PC Study Bible, Preaching Library, and Sermon Central. Scripture from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.