Resolutions vs. Intentions

There seems to be, in general, a negative disposition towards New Year's resolutions. Maybe it's because they have become so cliche` and so likely to fail. Resolutions like losing weight, excersizing more, eating less, being on time, not procrastinating, and others like that are often emotionally driven. Don't get me wrong. These are great resolutions, but when you get to the nitty gritty of getting it done, you're usual tendency that's causing those behaviors in the first place take over and you're right back where you started.

So this year, I asked myself this question: What are the things about last year that I want to leave behind and make different about this year? Intentions. "I didn't like that I was (enter behavior or negative habit) last year, so this year, I intend to do it differently."

The biggest one for me *true confessions* is that I intend to be a more faithful person this year. Last year, I was notorious for not following through on ideas I had, or worse, things I had committed to (eek!), I never returned phone calls or emails or facebook messages out of plain laziness, and I often forgot about them . I was convicted that I had flat out, most likely become a person that could not be counted on. UGH! How terrible! Thank you God for His grace and the grace of all the people around me who loved me despite this particular shortcoming.

Now that I'm sharing this with the whole world, I have the accountability of the whole world as well. Of course, this is all in the power of the Holy Spirit in me to help me overcome the laziness that I tends towards so often.

so, what are your intentions this year? You don't have to answer, just ask yourself.