“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21
Scripture Focus
Proverbs 19:21 reminds us that we may have many ideas, hopes, and plans for our lives, but God’s purpose is greater, wiser, and stronger than anything we could design on our own.
Devotional Reflection
Living an intentional life begins with surrender. It means admitting that our plans, as meaningful as they may be, could never compare to the plans God has prepared for us. When God gives an assignment, He also gives purpose, grace, strength, and direction for the journey.
For 31 years, I have walked this faith journey with God. It has not always been easy. I have known joy, but I have also experienced deep pain. I have faced fear, pressure, uncertainty, and moments when I wondered if I could keep going. Yet through every season, God has been faithful. He has carried me, kept me, taught me, and reminded me that His purpose still stands.
Intentional living is not about controlling every detail of life. It is about waking up with a surrendered heart and saying, “Lord, not my plan, but Your purpose.” It is choosing to trust God when the way is clear and when the way is hidden. It is believing that He sees the full picture, even when we can only see the next step.
There were seasons when I did not understand what God was doing. Fear tried to blind me. Pain tried to silence me. Weariness tried to make me quit. But now I can look back and see that God was working even in the hard places. He was shaping me, strengthening me, refining me, and preparing me for what He had assigned to my life.
In my first book, Daughter of the King: Possessing Your Spiritual Inheritance, I shared part of this journey. I wrote about how the Lord impressed upon my spirit that I was part of His end-time army. At first, I did not fully understand what that meant. I did not see myself as a warrior. But God was teaching me that every believer has a place, a purpose, and a part to play in His kingdom.
We may not all have the same calling, gift, or assignment, but we are all called to be faithful. We are called to stand for truth, walk in love, live by faith, serve with humility, and shine light in dark places. Purpose is not always loud or public. Sometimes purpose is found in obedience, prayer, serving, healing, waiting, and simply saying yes to God.
When I joined a women’s network, I received prophetic words that helped me see myself differently. One word in particular said I was an imparter of truth and a warrior who would help bring many to freedom. Later, when I was ordained as a minister in 2017, it was prophesied that I had been given a “justice mantle.” Those words were weighty, but they also awakened something in me. They helped me recognize that God had been preparing me for more than I realized.
What I came to realize later is that my first name, Aleatha, means truth or truthfulness, and that revelation helped me understand why truth and justice—especially God’s truth—means so much to me; God truly has a way of surprising you.
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (Jn. 17:17).
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
Once I said yes to God, my priorities began to change. My goals shifted. My desires shifted. My focus shifted. I could no longer live only for what was comfortable or familiar. I had to learn to trust God in the process, trust Him in the refining, and trust Him even in the fire.
That is what intentional living looks like. It is not about having everything figured out. It is about being willing to follow God one step at a time. It is allowing Him to prune what needs to be removed, heal what needs to be healed, and develop what He placed inside of you for His glory.
Personal Reflection and Application
Truth has become one of the clearest threads in my journey—woven into my name, confirmed through prophetic words, and rooted most deeply in God’s Word. First Peter 2:9-10 reminds us who we are in Christ: chosen, royal, holy, and belonging to God. Because of that truth, we do not have to live confused about our identity. We belong to Him. We have received mercy. We have been called out of darkness into His marvelous light.
If you are wondering what your purpose is, begin by remembering who you are and whose you are. Ask the Lord for wisdom. Ask Him to open your eyes. Ask Him to show you what He is doing and how you can partner with Him. Your purpose may unfold differently than you expected, but God’s purpose will always prevail.
Prayer
Father, thank You for creating me with purpose. Help me surrender my plans to You and trust that Your purpose is greater than anything I could imagine. Open my eyes to see what You are doing in my life. Give me wisdom, courage, patience, and faith to follow You one step at a time. Teach me to trust You in the process, in the refining, and even in the fire. Use my life for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Today’s Intentional Step
Take a quiet moment today and ask God, “Lord, what part of my life do You want me to surrender so I can walk more fully in Your purpose?” Then listen, write down what He places on your heart, and take one faithful step forward.
Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. There is no giving up, because I am looking up.
Minister A Francine Green I July 2026