For Christians, hope speaks of a desire that includes expectation. When considering the promises of God, Christians know there is fulfillment.
Spiritual leadership is about hope. Our leadership must be characterized by a strong desire with expectation.
Listening, confident, learning, and conscientious leaders provide hope.
The very idea of “spiritual” leadership should exemplify the hope Christ came to provide all who would follow.
The ultimate deliverance was accomplished by Jesus at the cross. The result brought deliverance from our bondage to the consequences of sin.
This deliverance is identified as salvation, forgiveness, grace, and the indescribable gift.
It is the result of God’s immeasurable patience and love. Consider the lengths taken by God to provide for our greatest need and think for just a moment.
Our spiritual leadership is defined by it. The souls all around us depend on it.
Most organizations require a quarterly report. This is an evaluation of the work. Corporate leaders want to know the facts and figures contributing to the success or failure of plans to reach projected goals. Nearing the end of the year, we should also evaluate the year overall.
With spiritual leadership this quarterly or year-end report is just as valuable.
Evaluations are usually difficult. They cause us to examine what we do not want to face and take an honest look at reality. They are necessary. Our integrity will be demonstrated and challenged.
However, a spiritual quarterly report helps us prepare for the next step in growth.
Every company depends upon physical, financial, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual contributions. Without these gifts, success is hindered.
The development of our spiritual leadership hinges on what we contribute to the work. Are we giving whatever it takes to the needs that exist? Will our contribution make a difference?
When we contribute to the spiritual development of God’s kingdom, we know God will take what we have planted and make it grow.
Make a contribution today that leads others to know Jesus better. It is a gift worth giving.
We are told that habits take 21 days to develop. We often have both good and bad habits.
Why does it seem so easy to break good habits and so hard when it comes to bad ones?
Aristotle is credited with saying, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
Spiritual leadership is about excellence. Excellence is a habit worth developing!
If you would like a recommendation for a good book on habits, read Atomic Habits by James Clear.
Joy is an important and unique quality needed in leaders.
Paul could sing praises at midnight while imprisoned for Christ. He wrote from prison to the church at Philippi, “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I will say, rejoice.”
The letter to the Philippians also helps us see what happens when someone robs the church of that joy (Euodia and Syntyche).
Paul’s joy was based on his relationship with God, not his external situation, but he did not want anyone taking joy away from the church. Therefore, he instructed them to “live in harmony in the Lord.”
One of our tasks as leaders today is to have and instill joy in the church.
Tying a string around our finger does not really help. Mental exercises are often prescribed to assist, but few follow through because they forget. The older we get the more difficult it becomes to remember.
What can we do to help us remember? Leaders, we must connect to this need.
The writer of Hebrews instructs us to remember those who led us. Certainly, there is a need for leaders to remember also.
Remember there is accountability.
Remember souls are at stake.
Remember nothing is more vital to the development of God’s kingdom than leading.
Being a part of the team is special and powerful.
There are challenges, frustrations, thrills, high-fives, and throughout it all, a sense of accomplishment.
Teams are diligent in preparation, hungry to learn, and always focused on the priority.
Teams face the task of changing lives physically and spiritually.
Teams ask questions, discuss possibilities, work on solutions, and make decisions together.
One goal sets before them. One lifetime is given to accomplish the task.
Through it all, one opportunity has been provided to be a part of this team. The Lord knew the difference made by a team.
The most valuable commodity we have is time. The greatest gift we can give is our time. Leading people requires time. We all have the same amount. How we use it determines the difference we make as leaders.
Solomon said there is a time for everything.
From birth to death, Jesus was on God’s time. Paul wrote “in the fullness of time God sent forth His Son.” Approaching the final days of His life, Jesus prayed, “Father, the hour has come.”
Paul instructs Christians to use their time wisely because the days are evil.
In this crazy, busy, scheduled life we live, how are we using our time?
Compassion is best described as a feeling of sympathy aroused by the distress of others with a desire to get involved and help. It is easy to see how Jesus would be described this way.
The tougher an environment becomes, the more a leader’s need for compassion increases. During the challenges of life, an awareness to the needs of others becomes evident.
A leader’s senses must be engaged, observant to the surroundings.
Their hearts must be touched with the situation of others.
The hands of a compassionate leader must act to help.
Compassion is one of the unique qualities spiritual leaders must possess to emulate Christ.