Intentions!

This article today comes from my own thinking and how GOD is working in my life. I intend to share things in these articles and on my website that will help people grow and change for the best, as I am learning and growing in understanding. My motivation for writing what I write and doing what I do is to use the platform I have been given through my personal tragedy to help redeem the 04-16-07 VT Tragedy and my own ensuing personal tragedy. These articles sometimes challenge people so much that they react and respond (some even using and trying to use these in Court hearings against me, such as with another looming day in Court on 05-02-12). Thinking more about this and my recent sobering confrontations with pastors involved in all that has happened, I have been considering intentions!

What are our intentions? Is that all that really matters? How might intentions relate to everything that we do? These are very important questions for you to consider! Why is it that you think the things that you think and do the things that you do? Well, all this does come down to a matter of what we call the heart, or the core of who we are and central to all our decision making. We do what we do because of what we think and we are who we have become as people through our daily experiences and learning. Essentially, our actions proceed from our heart and reveal our character. Usually, intentions can be identified, even if not specifically stated.

Think about it…we all are constantly looking at intentions when we judge any situation. We actually do this—judge situations and the motives of people—all the time! We want to know why people say what they say and do what they do. We want to know their motives or intentions! Why? 😉This happens subconsciously, even if you are not aware of it! O.K., so now that you can see what you are doing, ask yourself why? and you will discover your intentions, even if previously unaware of them!

So, the question Why? relates to intentions. Similarly, What? relates to actions. How? relates to the way we say what we say and do what we do. Each of these is important. In fact, I submit that we each have a responsibility for each of these things—motives, actions and impact. Our intentions guide our actions and our actions (and/or others’ reactions) determine the impact. Are you getting this? Do you see how important the heart is? Proverbs 4:23 teaches this very thing: “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” We must “keep” or guard our heart (and thus intentions) in order to have the right actions and impact!

Now, having the right intentions does indeed impact the actions, but it doesn’t guarantee them. It is possible to sincerely have good intentions, yet not follow through with the correct actions. Actions do indeed directly follow intentions, yet we may not fully realize the true intentions. It is easy in our pride to be blinded by good intentions when we are not judging the entire process by what is best. We need a source outside of ourselves to help us determine our true intentions. This source is what GOD has revealed as HIS written revelation—the Bible. This source helps us see ourselves more clearly and as our CREATOR intends. Consider Hebrews 4:12:

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Friend, we are not omniscient and do not always know what is right and best. We dare not think that just because we are aware of a good intention we may have, that our actions will always be right. We could be blinded or even deceiving ourselves! We must be willing to see ourselves for who we really are and not just what we think we are. We need to see how our actions are perceived by others and be certain that we are checking our motives by this, too, as well as by the revealed Word of GOD. If we fail to do all of this, there will be unintended consequences. What are the real and best intentions to have? Be sure to remember that famous saying: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions!”