Intentionally, being intentional.

Up until this week I’ve not really been all that bothered about this getting older stuff. It’s come with a new sense of confidence, assurance, and dare I say at times… -wholly from the the Lord- wisdom.

Up until this week I’ve still been feeling pretty fit and as I’ve solidly got back into my running and training routine I feel strong, I’m smashing PBs, I’m running 5KM in less than 23mins on a good day. I’m lifting heavier weights and I’ve dodged the sore back, stiff neck and grey hair club that a few of the homies are in.

But oh how the mighty fall…

Then fast forward to this week, after a few months of sore eyes and slight pressure headaches; I went to the opticians. I’ve always had 20/20 vision, never had any problems with my eyes but looking (or squinting) back now, there were signs…

My eyes are super light sensitive, which I feel is rare for brown eyes? I have to sleep with an eye mask because even the faintest hint of light and I’m aware… I pretty much live in sunglasses and I guess years of sun reflecting into my eyeballs while surfing was eventually going to take its toll, that as well as my Mother needing glasses and age coming for us all…

At least I have a good excuse for being anti-social in the water now… but, jokes aside - thankfully it actually won’t effect my life too much - it’s just for driving in the dark mainly.

The funny thing is I did wonder if I’ve needed them for a while? Was I just blissfully unaware as I often pass out by 8-9pm surfed out so never had to strain my eyes in the dark.

One positive that I quote on quote told the Lord "It does however solidifies the fact that my future husband is going to have to sit right next to me at church because anyone lingering at the back I probably won’t be able to see…" Right? Rightttt?

It also might give me grounds for a visa because apparently a vitamin D deficiency can cause it - and we all know that I’m not getting any vitamin D in this Welsh winter… So did someone say South African medical visa? Yeeeeeeewwww…

I joke, but would be rad hey?

So, I know it’s been a while and other than getting physically older and I just wanted to share some life updates. You may, or may not know that I’m back in Wales for a while actually. I’ve felt God prompt me to make a few changes this season and I’m not just talking about buying new 5mm booties, a hoodie and gloves to surf here…

I’ve also committed to writing one of these post a month… now I know you’re looking at your calendar skeptically as you realise I have already missed the January self-set deadline… but yeah, well…like I told my boss (me) this article is waaayyy funnier than the one I would have posted then so it’s worth it?

So for your usual dose of humour, God and outlandish metaphors go grab ya oat m*lk latte… Jords in Cape Town… but actually in Wales… wanting to get back to Cape Town - is back baby!

Intentionally, being intentional…

On 22nd January 2024, I started a 21 day fast very much inspired by my sister church in South Africa’s email highlighting they were doing a week corporate fast, as I spoke to God I felt Him nudge me to do 21 days.

The intention: to really dig in and focus on Him and as we walked through this fast together it was/ is evident He wanted to talk to me about exactly that - focus and intentionality.

‘Intentionality’

noun;

• the fact of being deliberate or purposive'.

Most of us know that it takes 21 days to form a new habit; and that’s exactly what I’ve seen God start to highlight to me - forming some new and getting back to previous good habits I had in place but have let slip.

The first of which was being intentional in prayer.

“My house is a house of prayer”- Jesus, Luke 19:46

Now, I love prayer, I truly and utterly believe in the power of prayer - because I know Who is listening. I have a list of people that I pray for regularly, if not daily, for their salvation, others for healing, others for blessing and revelation, protection etc and I have seen countless answers to prayers in their lives and my own.

A few weeks prior to this fast I felt really different. I missed God.

Like really, really missed Him.

I asked Him why I felt like this when I was still reading my Bible, praying, I asked Him if I had any un-forgiveness or undeclared sin… I could still hear Him* but still, I couldn’t shake the feeling of space between us. Like that feeling when you take off the ring you wear everyday and all you see if the tan line from years of wear… It felt like something so special was missing.

*It’s not often an audible voice but more of a deep sense.

God showed me that He was of course, still there but He wanted to refresh and deepen my knowledge and practice of prayer and to be intentional with time walking, talking and waiting on Him.

You see, God is always wanting to talk; it’s just whether we are able, willing or undistracted enough to listen. I do have a gift from God that allows me to hear from Him easily, admittedly it’s something I hope I always pursue - as a result, I often get pictures or words of knowledge and I try to bless people with that.

At the end of last year I felt God prompt me to get even deeper in my understanding of the Bible. I love doing my readings and study but I wanted to understand even more, I was hungry to learn the context, how passages relate etc so a friend sent me a great study and commentary by Nicky Gumbel.

Day 1: I open the study, and there it was — all about the practice of prayer.

And revelation hit me square in the face.

Although I was still praying daily… I had stopped just coming to my Heavenly Father, my Dad, and staying for a chat or to spend uninterrupted time; to acknowledge who He is and just sit in His presence because I love Him.

When Jesus taught us how to pray, He began with the words “Our Father” — it’s so important we stop and pause to acknowledge who it is we are praying to before we interact and give our list of needs or concerns.

Now our Heavenly Father is a good Father, He wants to listen to us and us to come to Him with our wants and needs daily “give us today our daily bread” and He certainly wants us to come to Him rather than the world for our needs, but He also wants a real relationship with us.

Much like the relationships in our own life, if someone you love is only coming to visit you to get something soon you’re gonna feel hurt. Imagine meeting you best friend for coffee and her spending the entire time glancing down at their phone, or said hello, didn’t listen much to what you said and then rushed off?

It’s not kind hey, or polite or respectful?

So why was I doing the same with God’s Holy presence?

So gently, God encouraged me over the course of these few weeks to make some changes - to intentionally commit and protect these changes - because life can so easily get busy, we need to make space and eliminate distractions.

Which flows nicely to my next area of focus. In the wise words of Lady Gaga and Beyonce:

“And you’re not gonna reach my telephone"

Now it’s not because I’m at the club, but never-the-less I’m not gonna hear my telephone (I mean it’s been on silent since 2011 much to my Dads dismay) but still… this tiny little device is both the bane and boon* of my life.

*something that is helpful.

Having long distance friendships it’s been such an amazing tool to stay in touch, to still grow and water the relationships as well as access countless cute doggo reels, workout/travel inspo and advice on how to make a million dollars but only work 3 hours a day, pyramid scheme type things….

But it’s also the biggest distraction to what is right in front of me (or us).

Back in my OG home

Like I said I’m back in Wales my OG home, for a little while. God has really highlighted the importance of ‘looking up’ and being present. When we take a moment to slow down and appreciate what’s around us, whose around us it cultivates gratitude and thanksgiving.

God Himself said that He inhabits the praises of His people, and I’m not sure it’s ever happened to you - but I know with a certain app it can sometimes make me feel like my little ol’ life is not quite as Insta worthy as others.

I mean when I was living in South Africa oh my gosh it 100% was. What a time!

But I’m not in that season anymore, and it certainly doesn’t mean this season isn’t as wonderful. In fact I have the most direction, clarity and drive that I’ve had for a long time and with that has come a deep sense of peace, content and joy.

So, I don’t want to be like Lot’s wife. I don’t want to keep looking back, or looking down at my phone longingly… God knows the desires of my heart - He put them there and I trust I’ll be back working and living in South Africa, in my Kommetjie beach house, with my husband and very, very cute dog and kids but in His timing.

I’ve learnt the lesson, and if it’s not His timing or His will then I don’t want it.

But there’s a very high chance I need to be matured and grown before I get all that. God has to be able to trust me with His blessings. So when I receive them, I know I’m gonna wake up every single day thanking the Lord, bowing before Him in worship for He is so good.

I’m going to do that because that’s what I do now.

I wake up and I thank God because I love Him for who He is, more than any blessing that is to come. He has already done enough. God sent His beloved Son, to die in my place, to rise again so that I can live forever in relationship with Him.

While God is highlighting my need to focus on Him, naturally that means eliminating distractions.

I got rid of a pretty big distraction at the end of last year but there still as one bigger one remaining; so I deleted Instagram off my phone. I am pretty good at being time savvy on my phone in general but Insta had slipped that exception.

And I’m surprised how free I feel without it.

Look, I miss those golden retriever reels don’t even get me started and it does make me happy seeing all my friends adventures - but this has really been the best thing for me, my heart and my focus.

Since deleting it, It’s enhanced my prayer life tenfold.

It’s enhanced my relationships as I can be intentional with my friends and family; rather than reply to a story I can call or message my friend and have a genuine catch-up.

I mean I’ve been trying to write this article since December; just 12 days off Instagram and my phone and creativity is flowing…

Honestly, it’s highlighted and changed how I want to use my phone altogether - I want to strive to be intentional with those that are put in my life. So, for my long distance besties I’ve swapped long voicenotes for time set aside for phone calls or facetimes; for local homies, where I can swapping facetimes for in-person coffee dates and beach walks, for online prayer meetings I’ve committed to go in person every Friday morning.

Sonny helping me with quiet time

I don’t want to rush past intimacy with God or with people I care about to scroll on an app designed to steel my time and call it connecting. I don’t want to look at how others live there life and suddenly compare and doubt what God’s telling me my purpose is.

As my Bible study this morning stated:

‘You can live a life of real purpose that will make a difference to the world, because of what you receive from Him [Jesus]. Your potential is not about being driven by ambition or success it’s about recognising who you are in God. As you seek Him you live your life according to His purposes and you will bear much fruit…’

I want Gods fruit in my life, not the worlds.

I want love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Those things come from knowing and spending time with Him - undistracted, unhurried time.

And I want to encourage you to do the same, it might just look differently for you. You might not have Instagram or you use it well, (you can ask God what it looks like for you) but some ways I thought might bless you are these:

• Rather than choosing to read a quick verse, or open the Bible app wake up a little earlier open your physical Bible.

• Meditate on scripture, look into commentaries about what a stand out phrase/word means/ what the content is.

• Journal about them, write out prayers, or thanks and songs.

• Pray, come to God with thanksgiving and praise - even if it’s a season where that feels hard, let Him minister to you as He draws close to the broken-hearted

• Rather than watching online church, become a church member, serve on a team and tieth faithfully.

• Rather than telling others “I’ll praying for you” and then walk away and accidentally forget, pray there and then, lay hands, do what Jesus did.

Instagram isn’t the problem and I can’t promise I’ll never get the app back (especially as I do need it for some freelance work) but I can be intentional how I use it - not for connection, or confirmation, distraction, or inspiration.

I can get those things from God, from the genuine relationships and community around me, and as I move into a new season I want to wholeheartedly embrace my time here, for things will and are always quickly changing - I'm getting ahead of myself there, as these articles progress there will be more on that...

So homies, that’s 1/12 articles done and dusted. It's a little late, but it is me after all...

I pray that it blesses you, that it makes you think and laugh; and most importantly know you’re never alone.

Age comes for all of us, but time, we have a choice on how we spend it. So spend it intentionally, seeking and loving the Lord, loving those around you and appreciating the wonderful world we live in.

Jordy Jords out

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