Productivity and accomplishment are directly related to our intentions. We want to clean out the garage. But it remains cluttered for months or years. That’s because wishing, hoping or ‘gonna do’ something does not start the engine.

They’re not the same as intending to do. Intention is willful, volitional, engaged. Wishing is imaginary - yet strangely satisfying.

For many, faith is like this: We want to know God better. We admire the faith and power displayed by the followers of Christ in the Bible. We know it is possible to live more fully in that reality. We read the Bible, go to church and hope that by and by we’ll be transformed. We imagine transformation will be imposed upon us and assimilated by us. We’ve heard that God is at work in us, and were waiting to see the results. We’re told that our works and efforts do not move God; that God works through grace and we cannot force His hand.

Could it be that we have no real intention to follow Jesus like the disciples did. We don’t intend, really, to do the works they did. Most of us don’t even tell others about our faith. We don’t intend to walk more fully in the knowledge, love and power of the Spirit. We only hope it happens. We determine that if God wants that for us, He’ll make it happen. The garage just never gets cleaned up.

We must intend to believe God’s word. Intend to be who He says we are. Intend to do what Jesus says we will do. We must put off every distraction, get in shape, and run the race intending to win.

Intention, immersion, and engagement make desires become conquests - promises become possessions.