Our feelings were never meant to lead us — they were meant to follow our mind. So many are led by their feelings when it comes to life decisions. But our feelings, or how we feel about a person or situation, should not be the final word.

We were created higher and better than all other creation. We were created in the image of God. We were created eternal beings — we will live forever in heaven or in hell. We were also given the ability to choose, to make choices. We are to live by the choices we make; and, hopefully, we will choose God’s way, and make choices that are in line with His word.

Jesus made it clear by His garden experience, when He threw Himself down to the ground, asking God the Father if the cup of sacrifice could pass from Him. But then He ended by saying, “Not My will, but Yours.” It won’t always be easy to do the will of God: to go against the way we feel at times — the way we feel vs. do the will of God when it is hard to do. But it is about His will, not ours. It is about His word: not the way we feel at the time. Our culture has ingrained in our society, If it feels good, do it. But as Christians we must weigh every decision against the word of God, and obey what He says. Our feelings were never meant to lead our lives: they were meant to be led by our mind, our choices.

I pray you choose God’s way over everything else and truly live and have good health. Proverbs 4:23 NLT — Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Just a thought,

PSS

Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 121-180), emperor of Rome, said, “Our life is what our thoughts make it.” How true that is. The thing we need to realize is: unless we are willing to change our thoughts and our minds, we will never change. First, we need to know that we can renew our thinking to God’s way of thinking. It’s possible if we are willing and if we want a close relationship with God. So many believe they have a close relationship with God because of how they feel, but nothing could be further from the truth. It’s not about how we feel: it’s all about what we know.

We come to God, through Jesus, with so many preconceived ideas about life. However, these need to be changed by renewing our thinking to line up with God’s word. Some might come to Christ believing that certain lifestyles are OK or believing something that is against the word of God. When asked why, they will say, “I feel this way” or “I feel that way.” How sad for that person who will never experience all God has for them because they violate God’s word by preferring their feelings first. But when we learn that God’s word convicts, we must change our minds.

God’s word is the ultimate authority. We can get closer to God, and we can have a better life, but that will only happen if we are willing to have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying. Then we will experience real #LifeChange.

Just a thought,

PSS

Real leadership is what our country, state, and local communities desperately need. I believe we are suffering in this area because people don’t really know what leadership is. Most people think leadership is merely occupying a position, but it’s much more than that. It’s about humility and influence — fundamentals of real leadership — being teachable, and realizing we may be wrong at times.

Unfortunately, many think that leadership is a means to getting their own way and doing what they want, regardless of how it affects others. But if you have to keep reminding people who you are, then you are operating in the lowest form of leadership — positional leadership, which says, “I’m the boss; do what I say, or else!” If this is your style of leadership, you must realize that people intuitively know if you think you are better than they are, and no one wants to follow a leader like that.

Ultimately, we must realize, especially in the body of Christ, that we are smarter together than any one of us could ever be alone. Real leadership asks, “How can I help?” and says, “Come be a part of the team!” not “Do this,” or “Do that.” When leading others in any capacity, remember the words of Theodore Roosevelt, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Just a thought,

PSS

How is your thought life? Do you constantly think negative or sad thoughts or focus on what you can’t do, how life is unfair or how everyone is against you? Meditating on thoughts like these will only work to destroy your life and the enjoyment of it — that’s why we must learn to think better. As John Maxwell said, “Good thinking is hard work. If it were easy, everybody would be a good thinker.”

The state of our thought life has a direct effect on our health and how well we live life. In fact, research has shown that our emotional and physical health is tied to our thinking. However, this is nothing new. Science is just beginning to catch up to what God’s word has said for thousands of years. The Bible says so much concerning our thinking: from taking rogue thoughts captive, to what we should think about.

Joshua 1:8 says, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (NIV). Negative, ugly thoughts that put you down only limit and destroy your life. Godly thoughts will make you healthier and bless every area of your life, but it all begins and ends with your thought life.

Just a thought,

PSS

Although we do good and live right, at times we can grow weary if we lose focus. However, the Bible teaches us not to grow weary in doing good. Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (NIV). Unfortunately, the desire to give up and succumb to weariness can be caused by things like discouragement and boredom.

For instance, some may feel as if their best effort doesn’t seem to matter or that it doesn’t look as if they are getting ahead, so they get discouraged. For others, they may get bored — bored with their life, bored with their career. They simply get bored with all of it and become weary. However, this tends to happen when they lose sight of why they were doing good in the first place.

Once weariness sets in, people start to make some, if not many, bad decisions. They could begin to give place to ungodly thoughts or temptations that at one time wouldn’t have been much of a temptation at all. Even worse, they could get into a relationship with someone other than their spouse. Sadly, tired people make mistakes — mistakes that will cost them in the end.

See, it takes a lifetime to build a reputation and a moment to lose one — to mess one up, all because they forgot why they were doing good and grew weary. Don’t allow yourself to grow weary. Keep your focus on God, continue to do good and realize it does matter — it matters to your family, your friends and to God (see Hebrews 6:10).

Just a thought,

PSS