Good Common Sense

It’s pretty amazing how easily our emotions can override good common sense. Everything from pride to fear, from anger to loneliness can cause us to make some really bad decisions; decisions that we’ll end up regretting down the track.

In 1812, Napolean Bonaparte, the self-appointed Emperor of France, launched a massive military campaign against Russia. He put together one of the largest armies ever assembled in Europe – 600,000 soldiers from various European countries under his control.

Never mind that he completely underestimated the geographical size of Russia, ignored the harsh climate and failed to account for Russian tactics. Napoleon believed that his military prowess and the sheer size of his Grande Armée would ensure a quick victory.

That hubris led him to ignore the warnings and advice of his own generals …  with disastrous consequences. His army was decimated by the severe cold, starvation, disease and constant attacks by Russian forces. Only 100,000 of his men made it back to France alive. You do the maths!

So when was the last time that your emotions got the better of you; that your feelings overrode good common sense? How well did that work out for you?

Psalm 119:66-67 Train me in good common sense; I'm thoroughly committed to living your way. Before I learned to answer you, I wandered all over the place, but now I'm in step with your Word. (MSG)

God loves you more than words can ever say. The last thing He wants is for you to wander into one blunder after the next. So, what a great prayer – ask and you shall receive. Lord train me in good common sense.

That’s His Word. Fresh … for you … today.