#intentionalaboutintentions by: Deborah Ard
(This blog post is not at all about what I had planned for it to be about but God had a different plan. )
I have had a difficult week. I am not going to go in to the details of what made it difficult because that would give Satan glory and this blog is NOT about him! I have just seemed to have one trouble after another and just when I have felt like one situation is better something else would happen. So today I want to share with you how the intentions of my friends have blessed me and brought me joy.

One friend has sent me encouraging texts and she has even sent me a prayer just for me. Those words were so comforting and gave me strength to keep going.
Another friend listened as I shared my frustrations. Having her take the time from her busy schedule showed me she cared.
Perhaps the greatest examples occurred yesterday evening at our Run For God meeting. As I walked into the meeting I allowed my frustrations to get the best of me and I began to cry as I talked. Everyone there was loving and understanding in their words and hugs. My usual running buddy wasn’t there so as we set out to run I was at the back of the group. I am a very slow runner so needless to say there was no chance of me catching up with them. However as I ran I prayed to God about the frustrations of the week. During the first mile the distance between us grew but I still knew they were around the corner ahead of me and that gave me the energy to keep going. A friend rode by on a golf cart and seeing that I was by myself she rode beside me to check on me. As we grew closer to the end of the run one friend circled back around and began to run beside me. My pace is so much slower than hers but she intentionally slowed up to run beside me and encourage me. As she and I began our running together the song Rescue by Lauren Daigle was playing. As we turned the corner and began running on the next street another friend came up beside me. I began to concentrate on the words of the song and at this precise moment another friend came up from behind. The words said, “There is no distance that cannot be covered over and over, you’re not defenseless, I’ll be your shelter, I’ll be your armor. I hear you whisper underneath your breath. I hear your SOS. I will send out an army to find you in the middle of the darkest night. It’s true, I will rescue you. I will never stop marching to reach you in the middle of the hardest fight. It’s true, I will rescue you.” I absolutely had chills and had tears in my eyes that I am sure my friends thought was sweat. And to top it all off, I awoke this morning to a beautifully intentionally written text from one of those friends that encouraged me and gave me the insight to write this blog.
When we allow Him, God uses each of us to build each other up. My friends intentionally encouraged me and gave me strength and comfort. Now I ask you to examine your intentions. When God nudges you to reach out to a friend do you act on it? Or do you have good intentions that you never follow through and do? Today I encourage you to act on those good intentions. It doesn’t have to be a grand or glorious act. It could be a text, phone call, or note. It could be a helping hand or a listening ear. Be the encouragement that someone may need even if it is just running beside them on their journey. You never know when you may be a part of the army God is sending to rescue them at that moment! Let’s all be intentional about our intentions.
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
The song link; https://youtu.be/gYR0xP1j4PY

Picture featured is by Christine Caine