Intentions

This is a very difficult post for me to write perhaps because I had intended to do it for so long, yet never did. And perhaps it is because I also know the direction that I intend to take with this note.  We use the word intentions and all of its derivative forms to explain why we haven’t done what we thought we were going to do. We intended to lose 5 pounds before summer beach season. We intended to keep our New Year’s resolutions. We intended to start reading more. We intended to start being more physically active. We intended to witness to unbelievers. We intended, we intended, we intended, but we never accomplished. There is a phrase, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with our intentions. What is wrong is that there is no follow-up, there is no follow-through-with-action. I intend to stay in touch with my family more, but never pick up the phone to call anybody. I intend to read more, but find myself watching TV instead. I intended to spend more time with the children, but am so tired and exhausted at the end of the day, that all I want to do is sleep. I have grand visions of the perfect date night with my wife, but never seem to find the time, energy, or money, to bring the vision into reality. One of the dangers with intentions, one of the dangers of our big goals and big dreams, is the busyness of our current lives. We spend our time running from one activity to the other. We spend our time filling our schedules with needless and endless busywork, that we never have time to get to the things to which God is calling us to do.

What are you intending to do today, what are you actually going to do today? Are the two aligned? What can you do differently in structuring your day, to bring alignment between your intentions and your actions?