Are You Stirred… or Are You Moved?

Leadership rooted in Jesus doesn’t stop at emotion—it begins there, but it moves into action.

I’ve been sitting with a question lately—one that’s not only uncomfortable but necessary:

Does emotion stir me, or am I actually moved to act?

There’s a difference. And I’m realizing how often we confuse the two.

We live in a world that praises emotional awareness—being “in tune,” “feeling deeply,” and “empathizing.” But feeling something is not the same as doing something. Too many are stirred by emotion yet do nothing.

That sentence hit me hard. So, I wrote it down, prayed it through, and now I’m writing this for you.

Praying for a Different Kind of Vision

I’ve been praying a specific prayer lately:

“I pray that I see beyond the ugliness in people—their flaws, their failures, their offenses—and instead have the sight of Jesus toward everyone.”

Not so I can be softened by emotion. We don’t need more sentimental reactions. We need spirit-led action. Because stirred hearts don’t build the Kingdom. Moved hearts do.

Jesus didn’t just feel compassion. He acted on it. He didn’t just notice the brokenness. He stepped into it.

And I want to lead like that.

Leading With Grace Over Judgment

We all have moments when frustration clouds our vision—when someone’s behavior makes us want to retreat, react, or just write them off.

But I’m learning (and re-learning) that: Grace sharpens our vision; it doesn’t blur it.

May my vision not be clouded by frustration or judgment but sharpened by grace—so that I may be effective, unwavering, and obedient in serving those in my proximity.

This is my prayer. Not for a passive heart, but a purposeful one. A heart that doesn’t just feel the weight of the world but steps into it with Kingdom conviction.

Faith in Proximity

This blog isn’t just about leadership in theory. It’s about what we do with what we feel when we're in proximity—to brokenness, to difficult people, to the real mess of life.

You and I are leaders in some capacity—at work, at home, in ministry, in community. And the kind of leader I want to be is the kind that acts out of love, not ego, grace, not judgment.

“Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” – James 1:22

Obedience isn’t flashy. It’s often quiet, consistent, and unrecognized. But it’s in that kind of obedience where transformation happens—in others and in us.

So, Are You Stirred… or Are You Moved?

If you’re reading this and you’ve felt that nudge—that fire in your chest—you’re not alone.

• Maybe you’ve been reacting more than responding.

• Maybe you’ve been feeling a lot but doing very little.

• Maybe you’ve let judgment take the front seat instead of grace.

Today is the day to shift that.

Because leadership rooted in Jesus doesn’t stop at emotion—it begins there, but it moves into action.