You Have to Be Intentional
Matthew West on finding time for God and family
As a Christian artist who is constantly in the spotlight, you might think Matthew West has his spiritual life perfectly in order. But Matthew shared about his own struggles with maintaining spiritual disciplines with us, especially when it comes to reading the Bible. Despite the success and platform he’s been given, Matthew’s journey reflects a challenge you might face too—the battle to stay connected to God in a busy, distraction-filled world.
You may sometimes feel like you’re the only one who struggles to keep a consistent relationship with God, especially when it comes to reading your Bible regularly. But the truth is—no one is immune to these challenges. “The very first thing that popped into my head is reading my Bible,” Matthew said when we asked him about what in his life requires intentionality.
Matthew told us he asked his father, who was a pastor for 38 years, if having a disciplined quiet time ever gets easier. To which he said his father replied, “It is always a struggle.” This vulnerable moment with his dad gave him comfort and freedom, realizing that even those who have walked with God for decades still wrestle with staying connected to the Word. Perhaps this is something you can relate to as well—the enemy will always try to pull you away from the one thing that will strengthen your walk with God: His Word.
Finding Intentionality
Matthew’s demanding career as a touring artist, combined with his family life, often pulls him in many different directions. Is it a familiar challenge you face, whether you’re balancing work, family, or other commitments? Matthew shared how being intentional with his time at home is a constant battle, especially when it comes to spending quality time with his wife and daughters.
Maintaining strong relationships requires spending time intentionally with your loved ones.
“What does it look like to be intentional and take my daughters for dates?” Matthew asked, reflecting on the importance of being present for each of his children. Whether it’s taking his daughters out one-on-one or celebrating his anniversary with his wife, Matthew constantly strives to make intentional choices in his personal life.
Intentionality in Your Own Life
You may not be a touring artist, but you can probably relate to the difficulty of being intentional in your walk with God and your relationships. Matthew’s transparency shows that even those in ministry or the public eye face the same struggles. His honesty about missing the mark sometimes is a powerful reminder that you don’t have to be perfect in your pursuit of God or your relationships.
Matthew explains that it’s a matter of finding small ways to be intentional, even when it’s tough. He mentioned how, despite returning from a grueling 32-city tour, he made the effort to celebrate his anniversary with his wife. “The last thing I wanted to do was go out of town…but you know what? It was our anniversary. And I’m not going to punish her for me being gone,” Matthew said with a laugh.
At the heart of intentionality—it’s about doing the right thing, even when it’s hard.
You don’t have to get it perfect every time. The key is to keep striving, to keep being intentional, and to give yourself grace when you fall short.
At the end of the day, God honors your efforts, no matter how small they may seem. As Matthew says, “I don’t hit the mark every time. None of us do. And I miss the mark way more times probably.” But that’s okay. The point is that you keep showing up, keep seeking God, and keep choosing to be intentional, even when it’s hard.
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