Living on Purpose: Trading Habit for Holy Intention

By Laura McDowell

Sitting at my desk at work, I glance over at the calendar hanging on the wall next to me. It’s a standard calendar, with peaceful nature scenes and motivational quotes for each month. The quote for this month says, “Live less out of habit and more out of intent.” I’ve read the quote several times today already but hadn’t really paid much attention to it. This time, however, I begin to chew on it, turning the words over in my mind, contemplating the meaning behind it. And then I realize how easy it is to live life on autopilot.

We wake up, reach for our phones, rush through the morning, say the same

prayers (or forget them altogether), react to the same frustrations, and fall into bed

wondering where the day went. Days turn into weeks, weeks into years and before we

know it, much of our life has been shaped not by intention, but by habit.

But Scripture gently calls us to something more.

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best

use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)

The Quiet Power of Habit

Habits aren’t bad. In fact, many of them are necessary. We form habits so we can

function without constantly deciding every small thing. But habits become dangerous

when they replace awareness – when we stop asking why we do what we do.

We can go to church out of habit.

Pray out of habit.

Serve out of habit.

Even love out of habit.

And yet, God desires hearts that are awake, not just routines that are repeated.

Jesus often challenged the religious leaders of His time not because they lacked

discipline, but because their actions had drifted away from intention.

“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

(Matthew 15:8)

To keep our routines from drifting into autopilot, we need a practice that awakens

our hearts: intentional living.

Intentional Living Is a Spiritual Practice

Living intentionally doesn’t mean every moment has to be dramatic or perfectly

planned. It means we choose to be present. It means we pause long enough to invite

God into our decisions instead of assuming He’ll bless whatever we’re already doing. It

also means being open to whatever interruptions God may bring into our day.

Intentional faith asks questions like:

• Why am I doing this?

• Who am I becoming through this habit?

• Does this draw me closer to God or distract me from Him?

Paul echoes this mindset when he writes:

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)

Transformation isn’t accidental. It grows from intentional choices and through the

power of the Holy Spirit.

From Routine to Relationship

One of the clearest places this shift matters is in our relationship with God.

Prayer can become routine.

Reading the Bible can become a checkbox.

Worship can become background noise.

But God isn’t after perfect streaks – He’s after connection.

Intentional faith might look like praying fewer words, but with more honesty.

Reading less Scripture but sitting with it longer.

Worshiping with full attention instead of half-heartedly.

Jesus modeled this kind of intentionality. Even with crowds constantly pulling at

Him, He often withdrew to quiet places to pray (Luke 5:16). He didn’t let urgency replace

purpose, nor did He allow His schedule to keep Him from being interrupted by the

Father’s will.

Small Choices, Eternal Impact

Living with intention doesn’t require a total life overhaul. More often, it begins with

small, faithful choices:

• Choosing to listen instead of reacting.

• Choosing gratitude instead of complaint.

• Choosing obedience even when it’s inconvenient.

Galatians 6:9 reminds us:

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a

harvest if we do not give up.”

Habits shape our days, but intention shapes our direction.

An Invitation to Pause

Maybe the most countercultural act of faith today is simply to pause.

To ask God:

“Search me.”

“Lead me.”

“Show me where I’ve been living on autopilot.”

Living less out of habit and more out of intent doesn’t make life easier, but it

makes it meaningful. It aligns our everyday choices with eternal purpose. It turns

ordinary moments into sacred ones.

So today, take a breath.

Invite God into your routines.

And choose, even in one small way, to live on purpose.