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“Our feelings are wonderful followers, but they are terrible leaders.”

A thought by Andy Stanley, (2009-01-21) from his book, Louder Than Words: The Power of Uncompromised Living (Kindle Locations 1540-1541). The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

I almost did that today.  I wasn’t feeling very inspired and I had a lot of other things getting my attention and I just about convinced myself to not write a new post.  I could wait and write it tomorrow.  I just don’t feel like writing today.

Do you ever get to that point?  I heard of this guy who got up on a Sunday morning and told his wife, “You know, I just don’t feel like going to church today.  I was up late last night and I just feel like staying home.”  But his wife brought him back to reality.  She said, “But you are the Pastor.  You can’t stay home.”

Maybe that is the way you feel every Monday.  “I just don’t feel like going to work.  I think I will just stay home.  That is what I really feel like doing?”   But you get up and get ready and head in to work because you realize that feelings are terrible leaders.

Or maybe you had a fight with your wife and you get up and walk out and you say, “I just don’t feel like being married anymore.  It is just too much work.”  There have been some who have let their feelings take the lead and walked out not caring who they hurt.  And they have shown by that self-centered action that “Our feelings are wonderful followers, but they are terrible leaders.”

I’m sure you have come to the conclusion that I didn’t give in to my feelings today.  You wouldn’t be reading this if I would have.  And I hope and pray that you don’t let you feelings take the lead in making the decisions in life that you are facing.

So what feeling in you is striving to take you down the wrong path?

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