It is all about intentions

Scriptural Readings: Acts 13:2, James 4:8, Matthew 22: 36-40

Intention is all about planning including our feelings and all those sorts of things that we want. True enough we considered a lot of things arriving from these intentions. Considering the things and the time we gave and went through with these intentions as Christians, the question is…Is it God’s will?

King James Version

Acts 13:2

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

New Living Testament Version

Acts 13:2

One day as these men were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.”

One sure thing is that God has a plan and intentions for us. Make no mistake about it. He will reveal a lot of things for us as soon as we go through with our day. The Holy Spirit Whom the Father promised us will guide us. We should not doubt it. God never wanted for us to have intentions without His will. God has a plan for each and everyone of us.

If our intentions is all for God’s glory there is no doubt that God will not delay His response for us. The only reason we cannot understand, comprehend and all mixed up is because of our own intentions hidden in our hearts that only God can see.

One day as these men were worshipping the Lord and fasting….

This alone we can see that they were no doubt serious with their worship and fasting as well. This is a time only for God. Their intention and focus is just all for our God. There is only one thing in their spirits, soul and body and that is God. They are doing this for one reason and that is to draw near to God and sure thing was that they knew God will draw near to them. And as they expected the Holy Spirit responded by giving them His intention.

James 4:8

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded.

This is why a personal relationship with Jesus, accepting Him as our Lord and Savior is needed.

We are asked to draw near to Him but when? Tomorrow? Next week? next month? because we have to finish something? God knows all our intentions. There is no doubt that if we draw near to Him He is always there and He will draw near to us. This is the reason why we always regret things at the end. God is always waiting for us to draw near to Him but we always have other intentions which has become a priority not Him.

Matthew 22: 36-39

v.36 Master, which [is] the great commandment in the law?

v.37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

v.38 This is the first and great commandment.

v.39 And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

v.40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

All things do matter. Our responsibilities to our families. Our social responsibilities matter too. Our rights also matters a lot. Jesus wants us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves but the first thing Jesus wanted is to love God with all our hearts, soul and mind.

If our intention is to think what are the good reasons why we should divorce our partners, a legitimate reason why we should be having abortion because these are bothering us. Do we think that these intentions are more favorable for God? Did we ever asked God how to have a forgiving heart so that I can forgive my cheating partner? Have we given some serious thoughts about the innocent life that has to be removed because of an untimely pregnancy? Did we ever have the thoughts of giving God the time and not asking Him the reasons why we should have reasons for these things that we did and decided in the first place ? These are our intentions. True enough we are focused on God but our intention is for our own good not His will. Again, true enough we will be having these uncertainties but God wants us to focus on Him not with the things that has given us these discomforts. God is bigger than any of our countless unbearable problems.

God wants us to acknowledge Him. His presence in us should tell us that we are precious to Him and not to waste time looking for what is good for us. God knows what is best for us. It would be a real comfort and peace of mind focusing on Him. Despite the fact that we are weary and heavily laden, Jesus said “ I will give you rest.”