When Our Good Intentions Are Gone By Noon

I know how it goes.

We start our day with good intentions. Good intentions of great endeavors, activities, and attitudes. We wake up planning that today will be the day. Today is the day things will be different.

Today I will read my devotional and spend some time talking with God.

This is the day I’ll eat healthy… all day.

Today I’m going to love others–all others–unconditionally.

I’ll believe the best in others, I’ll live in the moment, and I will trust God. No matter what.

Nothing will affect my attitude, my outlook on life, or the sparkle within me.

Maybe not all in one morning, but these are all statements I’ve said to myself recently as I’ve started my day.

No matter how determined or committed or hopeful I am, there are days my good intentions are gone by noon.

Can you relate?

Maybe my devotional time is interrupted and my time talking with God becomes more of a few thrown up prayers.

Or someone brings my favorite–freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies–into the office to share and my healthy eating suddenly flies out the window.

Or I don’t love so well at the breakfast table that morning. (Can’t I even love well through the first meal of the day??)

I worried instead of trusting God.

And, I let someone’s spoken words dull my sparkle.

I find it tends to be the unexpected that trips me up. It’s what happens beyond my control that affects my good intentions the most. It’s then I find myself frustrated and irritated. I become disappointed in how my good intentions are gone so quickly, and even more disappointed that I wasn’t able to see those good intentions through.

I don’t like letting myself or anyone else down.

Still with me here? I’m guessing I’m not the only one who experiences this and feels this way.

When situations happen that take us far from our good intentions, what do we do? Oftentimes I feel like giving up. Maybe it would be better to not have had the good intentions in the first place, because again, I let myself down.

Maybe. Or, maybe not.

What if we viewed our good intentions as guides instead of musts? As goals instead of requirements? As supports instead of things we have to or should accomplish?

And, instead of feeling like failures when we don’t or can’t follow through, what if we gave ourselves some grace… along with another chance?

So what if we gave into that chocolate chip cookie. Let’s eat better at the next meal.

So what if we weren’t able to spend the time we wanted to in our Bibles or conversing with God this morning? Why not do it now or our next free moments?

And if we worried instead of trusting today? We can ask God to help us trust Him in the very minute we’re in right now.

The day isn’t a flop just because we missed a good intention or two.

Whatever good intention you weren’t able to carry out, try it again. And if you miss it the next time, try it again. You and I are not failures if we fail to follow through on our good intentions. If we keep trying, the follow through will come.

And, if I may add a suggestion, a good practice to get into is to ask God for His help, His strength, and His wisdom in assisting us in following through on these intentions. Maybe we aren’t equipped to tackle them on our own.

And then he told me, “My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.” Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 MSG

Let’s continue to walk this road together, encouraging one another in love and in our good intentions.

Blessings,

Julie
 

Linking this post with Jennifer and Holley.