I Don't Feel Like it

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 28, 1857

"I Don't Feel Like it."

Don't you? indeed; and so, my brother, you stay away from the prayer-meeting; you do not feel like going, and therefore you excuse yourself, and try to feel that you are justified in staying away, but really you are not satisfied with this; you do not appear about this matter like a man who is perfectly at ease in regard to the course he pursues. The fact is, as a Christian, you cannot be contented to neglect a duty with no better reason for such neglect, than "I do not feel like it."

A word in your ear, dear brother, before you try any harder to still the voice of conscience with this poor excuse. At the time when the Lord Jesus appeared as your Redeemer, and you promised to serve him all your days, did you throw in the proviso that you could discharge your duties only when you felt like it? No, indeed, there was no such condition as that; the language of your heart was, Lord, I will be thine, I consecrate my all to thee.

Do consider also the fact that your pastor and brethren are greatly encouraged when you present yourself with others at the regular weekly prayer-meeting. Should not this consideration have some influence with the man who will acknowledge that he is as much bound as any other member of the church to help his minister and brethren?

Ask yourself if it is not important for every church to sustain the prayer-meeting. Has not every member as much right to stay away as you? and if every member should follow your example, and stay away, what would become of the prayer-meeting? Have you a right to pursue such a course as would destroy this meeting if others did as you do?

"Do not feel like it." Well, suppose you do not—what then? Neglect duty? No, that will never do. We must not be governed by our feelings, but act from a sense of duty, from principle. Our feelings, too often, are as variable and changing as the weather vane upon the church steeple. It will not do to let them guide us. "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" may we say with the Apostle, and then do whatever the Lord tells us to do, whether we feel like it or not.