listening to voices

i've found myself this this week listening to well-intentioned voices.
please understand that i do not fault these folks for i feel that i know their heart and motives. they did not say anything wrong--in fact, their words were meant to be complimentary to me. they don't know of my struggle nor how their words affected me.
but, where i found myself was buying into an incomplete package. like a commercial seen too many times, i believed the claims to be the whole truth and not just part of the truth. (yes, that new car gets great mileage, but it is about as safe as anthrax.)
again, this was not the fault of my friends. nor was it inappropriate in any way to listen to what they were saying.
the problem is me. i put too much weight in an area that i KNEW was incomplete. i should have taken their words as encouragement to finish the journey, not as indication that i had arrived.
i am forming an opinion that this lack of self-discipline will be the downfall of my self, my nation and God's church. it is a scheme of the deceiver.

Precious Lord, guide me to where You want me. let me be a gracious recipient of encouragement and good will, kind words and actions. but, let me also have a discipline that brings me closer to You and instills in me the values and destiny You have laid out for me. teach me to avoid the temptation to rest easy when i know there is still work to be done. i pray also for our nations, especially in this time of political choice. and, for Your church, i pray deeply and ernestly that You would light the fire under us to get us making God-directed choices and not self-induced choices. free will is a double-edged sword; help us to use it as You direct.