What Are Our Intentions?

Intentions.
I intend to get my list of things accomplished today. I intend to get my list of things finished this week. I intend to get all the tasks that I have listed out for myself done, both personally and externally.
Everything seems based (both good and bad) on intention.
Each and every action we take has an intention behind it. A good intention can lead us forward, but a bad intention can do more damage that we even realize. Our attitudes are affected...even those around us are affected when we approach our actions, or our lives with poor intentions.
Attitudes can be based solely on our intention. We all have good days and bad days. There are some days for me that just start out all wrong. It seems everything I touch from the time my feet hit the floor "goes south" in some way. I might spill my coffee on the floor, trip over the cat, forget to take something up to the mail box. It's a domino effect that can last all day long. Or does it HAVE to? I think even the worst days can be turned around an salvaged by sheer intention and turning around an attitude.
For example, suppose I did spill my coffee, then trip over the cat, and while I'm bent over cleaning the spilled coffee, I hit my head on the counter top when I stand up. Now, that can make for a bad day. Then you spend the rest of the day complaining about "how badly your day started and how it's gone down hill from there."
Suppose then for a moment, once you have hit your head after cleaning up the spilled coffee, you simply STOP. Take a few deep breaths and say over and over again (all day if you must!) "I am NOT going to ruin this day with these small episodes." Taking that approach can change your outlook, change your direction and certainly change your INTENTION for how the end of the day is going to result.
There are things in life we do not have choices in. However, there are many MORE things we DO have a choice in. We must maintain control of our own intentions and when things seem to be going wrong, even over a long period of time, we must take the steps and maintain the courage to address those issues, determine the root of them and move forward with a more positive approach.
Are we ill-prepared for a meeting? Do we self-sabotage? Do we allow ourselves to wear the role of "victim" proudly on our chests, as though there is some merit in that? I don't see that "V" for victim is even remotely something to be proud of.
"V" for victory, yes, but there is a huge difference in allowing ourselves to be victimized or allowing ourselves to be VICTORIOUS.
Today is Monday. Typically, not the day of the week we look most forward to. However, Monday can indeed be a day to look forward to by having a good attitude along with the INTENT of making it a good day and the beginning of a good week.
God gives us choices. It's not His job to make those choices for us. Therefore, when we make the choices, we hold the accountability for choices we make and actions we take.
I hope my thoughts give you pause for what your intentions are for this day, this week and in fact, your lives. Don't let one bad situation destroy your hopes, your goals and your dreams. Keep moving forward. "SEE" yourself in those places you want to be and while prayerfully asking God to be WITH you during trying times, be reminded that you can also DELIVER YOURSELF from bad situations by using your own attitude combined with good, solid intentions.
I intend for this post to be a help to just one person today. That is my goal. Perhaps that "one person" might only be me, but it will have been set for with a very good attitude and with the best intentions.
By the way, I heard a quote once...don't remember who to credit it to...because I don't subscribe to that notion of thinking. The quote says, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." Don't look at life that way. GOOD INTENTIONS are a GOOD THING.
Pave your OWN road to the places you want to be in life, to the goals you want to reach and all the dreams you intend to achieve WITH GOOD INTENTIONS. Then give all the glory to God and know that GOOD INTENTIONS are a GOOD THING!
Till next time,
Annie

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