“Humility is the only true wisdom by which we prepare our minds for all the possible changes of life.” George Arliss

Spiritual leadership understands the need for humility and there is much we could focus on regarding the affect of humility in leadership. However, the last part of this quote deserves attention.

Preparing our minds for all the possible changes in life is a significant thought to consider.

We are all aware how life is full of changes. Life is constantly changing.

If we knew one secret to prepare ourselves for those changes, would we seek it, take it, and apply it in our lives? Of course, we all would. This is why the value of this quote should be appreciated.

Humility is the one secret to make this preparation.

Developing humility is a lifelong endeavor to achieve.

Humility recognizes our need for God.

Humility works each day at putting the needs of others above our own needs.

When the changes of life come along, our humility will enable us to approach the change with the wisdom to deal with it appropriately.

Before we speak, write, or act, think first. Two words simple enough to say, yet so difficult to follow.

We live in a reactionary world. We tend to react to circumstances. Life is unfair, so we react. Someone speaks inappropriately and we react. Others take advantage of us and we react.

Leaders must learn how to act. The only way to learn this lesson is to “think first.”

Before we put a word out through social media, think first. How will others perceive what we write?

Before we speak regarding family, personal, or professional matters, think first. Once words are spoken we cannot take them back. We can apologize, wish we could take them, or try to explain, but the bottom line is it’s to late. Think first.

The same is true with our actions. Before we decide to act on any given situation, think first. Remember others are watching. How will they perceive our actions? Will others know the intention of our heart based on what they see?

It is only two words, but two powerful words that need application. Think first!

Make sound and timely decisions.

We have talked about being decisive in the past. The principle is timeless. However, there are two key elements to this principle we need to develop.

The first is the idea of “sound” decisions. The soundness of a decision is subjective based on the moral compass of the individual. From a spiritual leadership perspective, the soundness of one’s decisions will be based on a Biblical compass. The word of God provides spiritual leaders with the foundation upon which all decisions are made.

The second involves the word “timely.” We have all heard, and perhaps experienced, the idea of “timing is everything.” With much prayer, spiritual leaders will seek to make decisions in keeping with God’s timing. Our impatient, or even impetuous, approach to decisions can create more difficulty in our leadership. Learning to wait for God’s timing to develop will help us greatly in making decisions.

When we make decisions that are both sound and timely, our leadership develops greater credibility. We should also remember that the ability to make sound and timely decisions more consistently comes with the gaining of wisdom.

Some parts of the world are easier to find direction in than others. In Denver, the mountains are always in the west. Therefore, if the mountains are on the left, we are facing or traveling north. If they are on the right, then we know we are facing or heading south.

Other places, however, seem absolutely impossible to get a sense of direction. Without some sort of geographical marker, identifying north from south, or east from west is nearly impossible. It does not take long to recognize why it is so important to have direction.

Pilots fly by what is known as IFR (Instrument Flying Rules). IFR involves relying on a plane’s instruments instead of one’s own senses. Certain conditions can create a false sense of direction causing pilot error.

Leaders are involved in the task of providing direction for others. If we are to provide the right kind of direction, therefore preventing error, we must use the true God given instrument.

God’s word is the only instrument needed if we are to provide true spiritual direction.

Would we be surprised to learn that the majority of people who claim Christianity do not understand prayer? Too often, prayer is used like a spare tire; we pull it out of the trunk when something goes wrong and we need a little help until everything is patched up.

Prayer is also used as a “hail Mary pass.” The idea represents a last ditch effort when everything else we try fails.

Biblically, however, prayer is a key part of a relationship with God. We pray not because tragedy strikes, although we can pray in those times. Prayer is not a last ditch effort to see if God will do something since we could not do it on our own.

Prayer is a beautiful expression of a heart that beats in rhythm with God. Leaders understand the need to walk in relationship with God. Thus, leaders find themselves in constant communication with the One who wants to lead us all.

Consider men from the Bible like Enoch (Gen. 5), Noah (Gen. 6), Abraham (Gen. 12), the prophets, and apostles, who all led as examples of a life in harmony with God.

Today is one of my favorite days of the year, my wife’s birthday. For all of you who know her, you know the incredible woman she is and all she means to so many. As I think back over the years God has blessed us with, I fail miserably at expressing what she means to me and the image of her true character. Somehow, words are inadequate to describe my true love and friend.

Beyond her physical beauty, she possesses an inner beauty that exceeds all. Her selfless character continues to teach me every day what love means. Her love for me, her children and grandchildren, is unmatched. The servant’s heart that beats within her demonstrates the most Christlike spirit I see in the world today. If there are angels on this earth, I am pretty sure I live with one, and I am thankful she claims me.

I pray God helps me to emulate the example I see in her.

Happy birthday to the greatest woman I know!

I love you TTBOTM.

A day set aside for expressing gratitude is a special day indeed.

Enough space does not exist in any blog post to express every area where we are thankful. One thought is sure; we are thankful for our God and you.

Our prayer is that this holiday is a special time spent with friends and family, one day among many to reflect on the blessings of life and give thanks.

From all of us to all of you…

Happy Thanksgiving

Seek responsibility and take responsibility for actions.

Leadership involves responsibility. The higher one goes in leadership, the greater the responsibility. As many have said, the greater the responsibility, the fewer the rights.

We could say we live in a culture where taking responsibility is not an acceptable practice. We could also say we live in a culture where the common practice is one of blaming others.

The problem is not cultural. This practice has been in place since creation. When questioned by God about eating the forbidden tree, Adam blamed Eve (and God for the woman given to Adam). Eve blamed the serpent. We have not changed much as people in the twenty-first century.

Leadership seeks responsibility and takes responsibility for their actions.

It is an interesting and powerful thought to consider: leaders give credit to the team when there is victory, but take full responsibility when there is defeat.

Rarely do we find such integrity and leadership. Yet, when leaders seek responsibility and take responsibility for their actions their influence grows. The result? People will follow!

To improve is to work at making someone or something better.

Athletes practice daily to improve their skills. They work hard to get better.

Professionally, people enroll in continuing education classes in an attempt to improve their abilities at whatever level needed. We should desire to be a learner, improving our minds and abilities.

Spiritually, we follow the teaching of Paul in being renewed daily. Doing so improves our abilities to fulfill God’s will for our lives.

From a leadership perspective, our role is to lead in ways we can improve others. Our leadership must not be about us. It is about others. It is about leading them down paths of improvement.

When we improve life spiritually, the physical side of the equation cannot help but improve. We improve the lives of others when we:

…share the hope found in Christ,

…point to the reward of heaven,

…and teach application in word and deed.

We all need to improve. The challenge is learning to understand how we improve ourselves in the greatest way by improving the life of others. Think Souls!

Before we dive into today’s post, we must realize that the depths of this subject cannot be covered in a few articles.

Hopefully, we can examine a few prayers from scripture by leaders of God’s people and learn from the relationship they exemplify with God.

Prayer is an avenue by which communication with God occurs. We often consider our approach to God as significant to understanding prayer. We base this on the instruction to the apostles who desired to learn how to pray (Lk. 11:1). We lift up the prayer of Solomon (1 Kgs. 8:22-53) or David’s expressions throughout the Psalms.

We can certainly learn a needed reverence in approaching God’s throne to speak. Without doubt, He is to be revered and lifted up by our hearts through the words from our lips.

We should remember that these examples are not the only prayers found in scripture, and they were not intended to provide a formula to be used in every prayer.

Prayer signifies a relationship and leaders need to understand more fully the relationship represented through prayer. More next week…