"I intended to call you today, Mom, but..........."
"I intended to get that back step fixed before someone fell but........."
"I intended to pay the taxes before the deadline but........."
"I intended to take the car to the shop before it quit running but..........."
Do any of those sound familiar?
"I intended to get my homework done before now but..........."
"I intended to give up drinking but ..............."
"I intended to take my kids to the park but.........."
Most of the time, God gives us another change to do the things we intended to do. However, sometimes He doesn't. I remember over 30 years ago thinking I should go across town and spend my day off visiting with my Mother and Daddy. I had good intentions to do that as soon as I finished the dishes, made the bed and a few other things. I never made it to their house that day. A few days later, I was making preparations for my Daddy's funeral.
What if we listened to that still, small voice that whispers to us about something we need to do? What if we made it a point to get our family back in church; go and visit a shut in; witness to someone we know is not a believer? What if our good intentions were carried out without question?
I learned a lesson about intentions when I didn't listen to that voice inside telling me I needed to visit my parents. Oh, I slip up; I don't always listen when I should and do what I feel I should. However, I do recognize that nudging in my heart telling me my good intentions will get me nowhere and I need to follow His nudging.
What good intentions do you have that you are ignoring?
"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and get gain'; whereas you do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. "James 4:13-14 RSV
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