intentions

Today’s post is probably the shortest yet. I usually consider this a place of teaching, but my prayer is that today’s post would simply be a PROMPT. I hope that the Lord uses these few words to stir your heart, & alter intentions until they align with His.

What is meant by ‘intention?’ It’s the target, end goal, or purpose behind an action. You study because you intend to make a good grade. You train for a marathon because you intend to cross the finish line. Interestingly, words like ‘scheme’ & ‘calculation’ are also synonyms for intention. You know what I’m talking about— circumstances where you put on a convincing front but have secretly devised a less honorable outcome. Maybe the plan is to expose a friend for something that will make you look better. Maybe you do a friend a favor, expecting one in return.

The devil loves to test our intentions. In fact, Adam & Eve’s actions in the Garden of Eden were brought about after the devil called God’s intentions into question. Genesis 3:2 “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?’” Then in verse 5 the enemy convinces Adam & Eve that God’s INTENTION was to prevent them from knowing good & evil, as if God needed to protect His supremacy or as if he had withheld something good from his creation (which he doesn’t— Luke 12:32).

Is the devil not using the SAME strategy to attack you & me? The pursuit of Christ has slowly morphed into the pursuit of righteousness. More than we want the Lord, we want to become like Him. We attend church to affirm good morals. We lead bible study, teach, or pray to showcase wisdom. We do mission work to display compassion & humility. Even behind closed doors, we give to show to generosity and read the Bible as evidence of our devotion. Yes, even the “good” things become demonstrations of human faithfulness. Instead of magnifying Christ, we hope to prove our own greatness. We have learned to disguise bad intentions. With just the right words, we convince ourselves and others that the action to come is permissible.

Jeremiah 17:9 warns us that “The heart is more deceitful than all else & is desperately sick; who can understand it?” This is why David prays Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Our hearts are dangerous; they cannot be trusted. Dependence on the Lord begins when when we accept the unreliability of our feelings. Because sin so easily blinds us to our shortcomings, we need help to know ourselves!

I wanna ask a hard question— Is glorifying the Lord the intention of your every action OR is it just a hopeful side effect // added bonus ??

I was super convicted by this question too. The more I’ve studied the Bible the more I’ve realized that we’re not as unlike the Pharisees as we often think. Matthew 23:5-7 says that “They do all their deeds to be seen by others…they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.” Our generation is SO driven by approval, self-sufficiency, & recognition, but let me be the first to tell you it’s a dead end. The freedom & contentment you hope to find will result in emptiness. Thankfully the Lord offers all-satisfying results every. single. time. He knows our intentions & can give us the grace & guidance necessary to purify & realign our intentions.