As a pastor, I speak a lot. Naturally, sometimes I strike a nerve…which in today’s world seems to lead to extra emails in the inbox.

DELETE. Well, sometimes…let me explain.

Feedback is the breakfast of champions, but only when it comes from the right sources.

If the source does not matter, then the feedback becomes nothing but another confusing, discouraging, self-doubt inducing, stress causing waste of your life!

Feedback becomes the breakfast of champions when you start listening to the right people while simultaneously learning how to ignore the wrong people.

You have to install a feedback filter. Here are some things that are working for me:

Decide who to ignore. Try making a list that describes the kind of person you need to ignore. Its easy and fun! This will help you learn who to listen to. Just don’t fall into the trap of arrogance where you think you don’t need to listen to anybody. That’s called PRIDE. But that is a whole ‘nutha blog post…

Learn to pan for gold. Learn how to find and use the gold that is mixed in with the junk.

Know that usually, unsolicited feedback is coming from an insecure person. My favorite is when someone prefaces their apparently brilliant wisdom with the words, “Let me give you some friendly advice…” Wrong. It’s rarely friendly and it’s not advice.

Amy Grant had a song called “Who To Listen To.” Look at this portion of the lyrics:

You’ve got to know who to, who not to listen to.
Well, you know, they’re gonna hit you from all sides.
Better make up your mind who to, who not to listen to.

Are you willing to tune out people who don’t have your best interests at heart?

Feedback from the right people (and the humility to make necessary changes) leads to more people meeting Jesus. I dare you to stop exposing yourself to abrasive, unsolicited feedback and to start listening to the people who matter.

And here is a hint for ya: the people that matter aren’t always the ones with a seminary degree.