“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10: 9-10)

Be Intentional

North Carolina State’s improbable run to the 1983 NCAA tournament championship is still one of the greatest underdog stories in sports history. The Wolfpack pulled of upset after upset before knocking off a Houston team featuring future Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon in the title game. Wolfpack coach Jim Valvano used the tactic of intentionally fouling Houston at the end of the game as part of his strategy for helping his team overcome a late deficit. With 1:05 left and the score tied at 52, Houston missed another free throw, leading to Lorenzo Charles’ dunk to give N.C. State the championship.

Valvano didn’t have his team foul out of desperation. It was all part of a deliberate plan based on the pressure of the situation and Houston’s struggles at the free throw line. Everything Jesus did was intentional too! He knew exactly what His mission was and stayed focused on the task at hand. Jesus spent most of His time on Earth preaching, praying and discipling those around Him. When Jesus said or did something, there was a purpose to it.

We should try to live the same way. Be intentional about spending time talking to God and reading the Bible. When we interact with people, take a second to think how you can show love and kindness to whoever you’re talking to. By making sure everything we do has a purpose, we can put Christ at the center of our lives.

– Joshua Doering