Justin Norwood; Good Intentions…

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(ThyBlackMan.com) Many of us have goals and dreams that we would like to accomplish, but how many of us make those dreams a reality by taking action and bringing them to pass? Our intentions say “Hey, I wanna do this” or “I intend on doing that” but if we do not make steps toward these intentions then they mean absolutely nothing. My pastor has often said that “The pathway to Hell is paved with good intentions“. Procrastinating where your faith is concerned and allowing things to distract you will knock you off of the path to success. Of course, many are familiar with the saying “Failing to plan is planning to fail” which is so true especially when concerning decisions that will improve your way of life. We must plan and prioritize for our future.

How do our intentions relate to our relationships with others? Well, anyone that has children or nieces and nephews should know that if we intend on doing something for them, then we should do it. Time passes so fast these days and children grow up so very quickly. When a parent or guardian promises something to a child and does not deliver on that promise the child can remember that broken agreement for years to come. The excuse of “I intended to do it” does not work. You have let the child down and must redeem yourself with them. Otherwise, to that child the hurt remains and depending on the extent of the situation it can take a while to heal. So, let’s fast forward to adulthood and dating/marriage. Men. Would you dare promise your wife something and not deliver? Not if you want to keep your relationship happy. A woman does not want to be lied to and neither should you be okay with letting her down. Likewise, ladies do not promise something great to your husband and default on the promise.

So, how many promises do we have stacked up in our good intentions file? I once had a friend tell me that they had intended on calling me, but I never got the call. What if I had been going through something stressful and needed encouragement? Okay, so your heart was in the right place, so what? Please stop saying that. What good is that going to do if they never knew that you were thinking of them. Speak up! These types of situations should never be, especially for those of the household of faith. So, whatever the “intention” be it a phone call, a gift, a meeting or whatever, be sure to act on it because you never know who you could have blessed by doing so.

Are we using “good intentions” with God? Do we intend on reading our Bibles? Or intend on praying, fasting, serving at church etc…? Are we being lazy with our faith? “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and [hath] nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.” Proverbs 13:4 What if Jesus only had good intentions and only thought about dying for our sins, but never did so? We would all be heading straight to Hell right now with no hope in sight. So, we must not only have good intentions with our faith. Start practicing on your faith now. Even if you start small that is okay. One verse of scripture per day is a great place to start. You will add more as you continue to grow. Pray about the church that you should attend. When you get rooted and grounded in a good church it is a great foundation that you can use to build your life upon. The church has a ministry area for you. Pray and ask God where you can be used and how you can be a blessing to others. Pray that TODAY. Do not wait. You do not know how much longer you will have a chance to ask that question. The talents that he gives you are for the benefit of the kingdom of God. Plus, you will be closer to the will of God for your life.

Do not take good intentions to the gates of heaven, if so do not be surprised if you’re asked to take those intentions to the gates of Hell. I’m not trying to scare anyone, I’m just saying that it is time to stop playing around with your purpose in life. By having only good intentions you are hurting others with misleading expectations and you are operating in selfishness by not thinking of your brother or sister. Besides, you would not want anyone to break promises toward you. We must have works along with our faith, otherwise it is dead. “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? ” James 2:20

Staff Writer; Justin Norwood

To learn more about this man of christ visit; Keeping The Vision.

Julius Fann says:

June 15, 2011 at 3:00 pm

Looking from another angle and not in opposition to to Mr. Norwood’s presentation, I would like to add the following. We speak of change, but what change can anyone undertake, concerning how they accept another or themselves, without first realizing all things they are aware of has influenced how and why they think as they do. And it is their way of thinking and acceptance of their thoughts and those influences which becomes a slave master to them if they do not take responsibility for how these influences and thoughts steer their living, thinking, and the way they treat themselves.

Now our parents shaped our lives. But their lives were also shaped by their parents, who made those same impressions upon our way of thinking and believing through their parents shaping of them. But at some point we have to stop allowing our self to be the charioteer being drawn in two different direction simultaneously. This means we have to make a stand to take the responsibility to change. It is no one else’s responsibility but our. No one else can take the steps were walk in this life, nor choose the direction we take. Influence us yes, but all final decisions we make, irrespective, are the ones we take from our fear of not being accepted, or loved.

No one has to accept us. No one has to understand us. No one can accept nor understand us if we do not accept and understand ourselves. Life does not owe us anything, because life has provided each and every individual with an inner inertia to move mountains simply by changing the way we think. This is called repentance, or resurrection from the dead. It is the regeneration of “the law of the Spirit of life” in our lives to do the will of God.

To change, one must comprehend what they are seeking the change of changing from, to what they are seeking to change themselves too. One who live with a defeatist consciousness has hung a grindstone about their neck and cannot look up because of the weight. There must be a change of this defeatist conscious attitude within that individual, if they want to become strong enough to be able to lift their head and look up and see the sun. “Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.” This is the intent we not only present to our chidren, but to all mankind.

Outward transition does not accomplish freedom. Change begins within, then spread abroad.

Rosa Parker – The Mother of the modern day Civil Right Movement shown here as an example of my meaning – showed this when she said “no more, the buck stops here,” and changed her attitude from a yielding mentally intent, to “I am the change I have been seeking.” I tell you here and now, stand up for righteousness. Stand up for truth. Stand up for justice.

So I say, that what you are seeking, you are. That which you are hoping and calling for you already have, its inside of you. Now what are you intending to do with it by moving beyond intent to a Rosa Parks demonstration? – jufa