A Pattern of Intention: God’s Fingerprints
Ps. Brenden Brown | Dec 14, 2025
Last week, we focused on "Behold the Promise," looking at the incredible story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. In that story, and countless others in the Bible, we see a consistent, intentional pattern—God's fingerprints on the world.
Just as a master engineer designs every component with purpose, God has intentionally designed you and has a purpose for your life. His work is not a random firecracker explosion; it is an orchestrated design, a beautiful pattern.
Think about modern engineering. When our friend who worked at Tesla showed us how their cars are built, it wasn't a mess—it was intentional. Every component, every line, and every detail is chosen with a specific function in mind, optimizing for efficiency and performance. The final design is the ultimate expression of intentionality. Just like a skilled engineer, the Bible shows us that our God is the ultimate intentional Designer:
Summer and Winter, Night and Day (Genesis 8:22): God set the world into motion with consistent, intentional cycles.
The Seed and the Fruit (Genesis 1:11-13): God planted seeds, and inside each seed was the fruit—what’s inside will eventually reap.
Creation and Procreation (Genesis 1:24-25): He designed animals to procreate, establishing a self-sustaining system through intentional design.
God is intentional, and His intentionality is for you. Scripture says, "the eyes of the Lord are running to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him" (2 Chronicles 16:9, emphasis added).
There are some intentional things that scripture highlights in many stories when it comes to positioning for the promise
God is always faithful, but to receive the fullness of His promises, we must put ourselves in a place where we can encounter Him.
Positioned
Postured
Presence
Power
Promise
We see this progression in the lives of those who received miracles. Let's look at Hannah and Samuel in the Old Testament:
Hannah: A Heart Positioned and Postured
Hannah was in deep distress because she could not have children. Instead of staying home, she positioned herself in the house of the Lord and postured her heart in complete surrender (1 Samuel 1:10-11). She aligned her desire with God's heart to build His house, and when she received the word from Eli, she responded in faith: "Let it be." That moment of positioning was her breakthrough.
Samuel: Living in the Presence
Hannah’s son, Samuel, grew up "lying down where the ark of God was." He was positioned and postured even when the word of the Lord was rare. Because he was available, he experienced God’s presence and power, and the promise of his ministry was fulfilled. Scripture says God let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground (1 Samuel 3:19).
The scripture is so multifaceted that even in these moments of positioning & posturing, we not only see God’s presence, power, and promise, we also see His divine providence through the Divine Connection of the Names of these people in scripture.
Look at the meaning of the names in this story:
Eli: "My God is Yahweh"
Elkanah: Acquired, paid the price
Hannah: "Grace" or "Favor" (For us to receive)
Samuel: "Name of God" (So that we could know Him)
My God (Eli) paid the price (Elkanah) for us to receive Grace (Hannah) so that we could know and declare His Name (Samuel)! This is the beauty of Jesus threaded through the Word.
Posturing Your Heart for the Future
When the woman with the issue of blood positioned herself near Jesus and postured her heart to touch His garment, the presence of God hit her, His power was released, and the promise was her new identity, Daughter.
“Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Mark 5: 34
Looking Ahead: A Framework for the Future
As we look toward the year ahead, here are important questions to reflect on:
Where are you positioned in your walk with God?
Where are you positioned in serving the house of the Lord?
Where are you positioned in trusting God with your finances?
Where are you positioned in your relationships—are they adding value and growth?
Are you postured to hear God’s voice and respond in faith?
God desires a healthy, strong church—one that is unified, skilled, and aligned with His purpose. His kingdom is moving forward, and He is looking for a people who are positioned, postured, and ready to receive His presence, power, and promise.
Let us step forward into all that God has prepared for us.