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More Than Good Intentions
A few weeks ago, I was looking through a stack of papers at home, trying to find a receipt, and found something else instead—a list of projects I had planned to finish.
Some of them had checkmarks beside them. Others had notes scribbled in the margins. A few, if I’m honest, had been forgotten.
As I looked over the list, I couldn’t help but smile. Most of those ideas had started with good intentions. At the time, I fully expected to complete every one of them. But somewhere along the way, life happened. Other responsibilities took priority, and what seemed important one day slowly drifted into the background.
I imagine we’ve all had moments like that.
The truth is, there is a difference between having good intentions and making a commitment.
Good intentions say, “I’d like to.”
Commitment says, “I will.”
Good intentions last until something becomes inconvenient.
Commitment remains, even when the path becomes more difficult than we expected.
I’ve been thinking that this is true in many parts of life. A strong marriage isn’t built on a wedding day alone. Friendships don’t grow because we mean well; they grow because we make time for one another. Families are strengthened through countless small decisions to show up, listen, forgive, and love.
The same is true in our walk with Christ.
Following Jesus has never been simply about agreeing with Him or admiring His teachings. It is a daily decision to place Him at the center of our lives. Some days that feels natural. Other days it asks something of us. It may require patience when we’d rather be impatient, forgiveness when
we’d rather hold a grudge, generosity when we’d rather keep what we have, or courage when we’d rather stay comfortable.
Yet those quiet, everyday decisions are often where our faith grows the deepest.
Perhaps that’s why Jesus is less interested in occasional moments of inspiration than in hearts that are willing to keep following Him, one day at a time.
As we come to the close of another month, it may be worth asking ourselves a simple question: Where is Christ inviting me to move beyond good intentions and into deeper commitment?
My prayer is that God will continue shaping us—not only in what we believe, but in the way we live each day.
May God richly bless each of you, |
