Message for Akron Alliance Fellowship Church, Akron OH, Sunday, October 19, 2025.
For the “Live in Church” audio of this message, select here.
Many of you may already know this, but I am a self-proclaimed game show aficionado. There are a number of classic and current game shows that I regularly watch, but today I’m focusing on The Price is Right because of its daytime and primetime host since 2007, Drew Carey. In closing his most recent shows, he is no longer speaking about getting your pets spayed and neutered. That was a carry-over from when Bob Barker was hosting the show. Drew now talks about the importance of keeping track of your mental health, and he has openly, and humbly, shared this information with millions of viewers. The Price is Right remains the number one daytime game show and is the longest running game show in television history.1
I’m sharing some of Drew’s words about mental health from a recent interview by CBS News New York. You would never know it by looking at him on television, but he has struggled for much of his life with depression, dark thoughts, and a couple of suicide attempts in his teens and twenties. He shared about his past struggles and what he does now to stay mentally strong and positive. Carey finally started sharing his story because “he had nothing to lose. I’m on TV too much to hide things from people. When I get together with my friends and before we start with our regular conversation, we just go person to person and check in with each other. That’s what friends do.”
Finally, Carey shared what he does to maintain his healthy outlook. He said, “I make time for myself. I have people that I can talk to about problems, but for baseline constant happiness—live within your means so that your bills are taken care so you’re not stressing finances every month. Then (hang around) family and friends that you trust and are close with. And then be nice to the server at the restaurant, be nice to the clerk at the 7-Eleven because it’s the nice thing to do—because it’s the right thing to do.”2
I trust that you get the impression that Drew Carey, who is now 67 years old, is living every day with intent about taking care of himself and his mental outlook. For many of us, it may come down to waking up one day and deciding that what you have been going through is no longer what you want to go through. You decide that it is time to make a change and take deliberate steps to do things differently and do life to be better every day. That is what it means to live intentionally.
What is meant by living intentionally in Scripture? Here’s an example:
Ephesians 5:15-16 NLT
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Living intentionally means living each day with purpose. It means giving consideration to making wise decisions and reflecting the light of Christ everywhere you go. It is this way of living that must be a way of life for every believer in Jesus.
Christlike actions are ultimately unselfish actions. There is a greater sensitivity to those in your proximity that need encouragement or even kind words. You’re also acting according to the Spirit and speaking as He prompts you to do so. All of these things are so important today, as the verse we read earlier, refers to the days and this time as being evil.
I also think that it is prudent for believers to be an encouragement to others and to share the importance of trusting in Jesus as often as possible. My bride and I were in a conversation with someone at the skating rink who recently lost her mother but was hoping that “maybe” she would be able to see her mother one day. How do you take that moment to share with that person that they can be absolutely certain that you would indeed see your mother, if she believed in Jesus—and that it is not a “maybe”?
1 John 5:13 NIV
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Now, this statement declares that a believer in Jesus lives with intentionality and with absolute certainty that he or she will be with Jesus forever. It is not about hoping or wishing for something much greater. It is about believing that Jesus Christ, because of God’s love for us, went to the cross as a substitute for our sins, and that He did it in order for those who believe in Him to live with Him for eternity.
John 3:16-17 NLT
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”
Of course, this passage requires faith and believing the words of Jesus Himself. He said it Himself earlier in this passage that “you must be born again” (3:3, 7). We’ve all heard these words before, but we also know that there are a number of people all around us that still make the conscious decision to not believe in Jesus. We have seen this same response by unbelievers throughout much of Scripture. There are people among us who lack the faith to believe the words of Jesus and His promises—even to the degree that they will dismiss the Bible as having any relevance to their life.
This is a good time to ask an obvious question. Even with the evidence that Generation Z is the focal point of a spiritual revival, why does unbelief appear to be increasing in the world today? We can even look at the life of Jesus as recorded in the book of John where many people, according to Jesus Himself, did not believe in Him (John 12:37-41). Some did believe (John 12:42-43), but even they struggled with publicly acknowledging their relationship with Jesus.
Scripture provides its own warnings that are ever apparent today:
2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
1 Timothy 4:1 NIV
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
Sadly, that is the case for those who are deceived and/or choose not to believe in Jesus. Their intentionality may be sincere on their part, but it is rooted in selfishness. A lot of people have what we would call “good intentions,” but they are ultimately futile. The world is filled with people who have good intentions, but they are like chaff flowing in the wind.
Ecclesiastes 1:2-4, 8-11 NLT
2 “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!”
3 What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? 4Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes.
8 Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.
9 History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. 10 Sometimes people say, “Here is something new!” But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new. 11We don’t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now.
Solomon’s words in the first four chapters of Ecclesiastes don’t get much better here. He does acknowledge God’s presence, but honestly, a lot of people acknowledge there is a God, but that doesn’t mean that He is a part of those people’s lives.
Jesus often shared words of comfort and reassurance.
John 14:1 NIV
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
Now, when a person says, “I believe in God,” what does that REALLY mean for that person? Does it mean that God truly comes first, or is his name just being tossed around for effect? Is the only time God’s name is used is when things aren’t going well or, even worse, when it is taken in vain? This is where Solomon’s words about life’s futility are most applicable to those who are not centered on Jesus.
My conclusion of all of this is that God is certainly aware of the life of every person who has ever lived, but a person decides as to whether or not he or she chooses to live with intentionality for Jesus.
Do you believe the words of Jesus when he says, “don’t let your hearts be troubled”? This is why Jesus often spoke about what He provides that the world can never give you:
John 16:33 NIV
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Do you believe His words? It requires faith in what He has said.
1 John 5:4-5 NLT
4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
It is believing in the love of God and the salvation of Jesus Christ that moves a person to live with intentionality for Him. Again, it is done because that relationship with Jesus means EVERYTHING to the believer. The Holy Spirit that dwells within sees to it.
John 14:15-18 NLT
15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.
Notice that the world, or those who live in worldliness, cannot receive the Holy Spirit…and doesn’t even recognize His presence! The Spirit is the One who brings people to Christ when they are looking for Him! If you’re not looking, you won’t see Him. That is why we plead and petition for those we know and love to take the blinders off and seek the goodness of Jesus. He will reveal Himself to you if you’re looking for Him.
- Living intentionally for Jesus means living according to your purpose.
- It means praying fervently for those who need Jesus.
- It means living according to the leanings of the Spirit at any given moment.
- It leads to living the best life for Jesus—the abundant life.
John 10:7-10 AMP
7 So Jesus said again, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I am the Door for the sheep [leading to life]. 8 All who came before Me [as false messiahs and self-appointed leaders] are thieves and robbers, but the [true] sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security). 10The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
This is the abundant life that the intentional believer in Jesus can and will experience. He or she will experience it because Jesus gives us His assurance that it will take place. An abundant life is not a life without difficulty. This is not a motivational speech. It’s not about the hit song by T.S. Monk called “Bon Bon Vie.” (Don’t let your message takeaway be about that song, please.) Jesus does not promise that believers will have a rich lifestyle. He does promise that you and I will be content with His peaceful presence in good times and bad.
Intentional believers live according to the Spirit and continually live according to God’s will:
1 Thessalonians 5:14-18 NLT
14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
15 See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
I can’t promise that every person you encounter will accept the words you share about Jesus, but please be assured that your Spirit-filled movement in your personal mission field will have a tremendous effect on those who are sensitive to His presence. Just yield to the Spirit and let Him take care of the rest.
Have you determined what God’s will is for you today? Do you have the desire to serve Him with intentionality, or have you been more comfortable lately in being a spectator or watching from the sidelines? A lot of people will cover for their insecurity by saying the right words publicly, but keep in mind that God is completely aware of who you are and what you’re doing…or not doing.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NLT
13 That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.
If you have made up your mind, once and for all, to live intentionally in Christ, pray for His wisdom and guidance, and for your next steps. Maybe it all begins with eating better and getting things right with your health. Your body is the Lord’s temple…Amen?
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV
19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
By the way, that includes your own mental health and well-being. (Put on some Chillhop lofi music and watch your mood soar!)
From there, get into God’s Word every day and rely upon the Spirit to guide you every day and surround yourself with good friends who care about you.
Be kind to others without expecting anything in return. Because it’s the right thing to do.
Live intentionally in Christ and see what happens.
Copyright © 2025 Melvin Gaines.
1 Paramount. (n.d.). The price is right on CBS. CBS. https://www.cbs.com/shows/the_price_is_right/about/
2 CBS News New York. (2025, July 9). Drew Carey gets candid about his mental health journey. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Sd4wQpRc_A
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Melvin Gaines 