Tag: Heart

The Heart

The heart is the innermost vital part, or essence of something.

Building on this understanding, the heart of leadership takes on a completely different picture. Consider the growth of the early church. Leadership was the innermost vital part and the essence of its growth.

If we really want the church to grow today, maybe we need to pay attention to the heart of leadership. Perhaps leaders need to take a greater role in fulfilling the God-given task of being the innermost vital part and essence of the church.

When this happens, we will see a revival.

Four Steps

Reflection, remembrance, consideration, and gratitude are words all leaders should know.

1) Now is the best opportunity to reflect on how we started, where we are now, and what steps brought us here.

2) While reflecting on our accomplishments, remember that God placed us in this position at this time. Let us be faithful.

3) We need to consider the lessons learned. We should also consider those involved in helping us reach this point.

4) Of all the steps, none holds more significance than gratitude. We need a thankful heart that expresses an understanding that where we are is because God has placed us here. Let us honor Him!

One Second Changes Everything

The value of time is measured differently by each individual, but we tend to focus on what needs to be done next week, next month, and next year.

Life is filled with many activities. As a result, time flies and we wake up one day wondering where the time went.

If light can travel 372,564.8 miles in two seconds, imagine how we can change the world with a few simple ideas.

A smile can warm the heart of one who is struggling.
Consider the power of a hug at just the right moment.
A kind word can encourage success when failure looms.

Passionate Leaders…

What are we passionate about? Do we find ourselves involved in activities for hours without any thought to the time? What drives our lives?

Howard Thurman said, “Don’t worry about what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

Spiritual matters must breathe passion into our lives. When seeking God’s kingdom is a priority, when reaching others with Jesus is the purpose of each breath, when worshiping God is at the heart of our activity, and when a love for truth drives us deeper into His word, we have the building blocks for passionate leadership.

Dealing Out Hope…

After spending several hours contacting numerous shelters to find housing for someone in need, an overwhelming realization of the hopeless condition among our population was apparent.

A compassionate heart quickly recognizes how people can feel so hopeless. A number of explanations may be given as to the cause, but the need for leaders is to provide hope. Napoleon is credited with saying, “leaders are dealers in hope.”

Leaders extend hope by learning to listen and express concern.

Leaders need to offer hope that someone is trustworthy.

Leaders possess a responsibility to demonstrate care by action.

People follow leaders who provide hope.

Spiritual Leadership…

The heart of a spiritual leader has resolve. Consider the following.

Spiritual leaders are determined, unwavering in the decided course of action.

Spiritual leaders are purposeful. Nothing is done by accident. They are intentional.

Spiritual leaders are adamant. They cannot be persuaded or distracted by trivial matters.

Spiritual leaders make the decision of courage when they must lead in moments of fear.

Spiritual leaders are unshakable. Leaders are pulled in many directions. However, they cannot be shaken from their foundation.

The Essence of Leadership…

Essence is the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something––especially something abstract––that determines its character.

The idea raises questions and ideas.

What is the essence of our leadership? Is there any substance to our leadership?

David talks about one “who walks with integrity, works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart” (Ps. 15:2).

The idea behind walks, works, and speaks describes more than just actions. David is talking about who someone is on the inside.

Godly leaders know that character may be defined by their activities, but ultimately it is who they are on the inside that moves others to follow.

Head, Heart, and Hand Leadership…

Three components that symbolize necessities for leaders.

Head: The head involves knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. Leaders provide information that allows followers to gain the knowledge needed to make decisions based on understanding.

Heart: The heart involves an emotional connection. While there is a need to provide followers with knowledge, when the information connects emotionally, conviction runs deeper and lasts longer.

Hand: The hand relates to action. Once there is an informed, emotional connection, the natural response involves activity.

Information alone leads to confusion. Emotion alone lacks conviction. Action alone limits inspiration. Leaders who connect all three can change the world.

The Heart of Leadership…

What we do for others is where leadership shines. Determining what is in the best interest of others must drive our leadership.

Lewis Carroll summarized it this way, “One of the secrets of life is that all that is really worth the doing is what we do for others.”

We find this common thread throughout the Bible. Reading the book of Philippians quickly reveals the need to have the same mind as Christ, the mind of a humble spirit that regarded others as more important than Himself.

This is the heart of leadership and the future of the church in this world.

A Considerate Leader…

A considerate leader stands out.

They have a heart for others. Leaders are challenged to consider the good intention of others first. We live in a skeptical world. We tend to question the motive or intention of everyone, including those who deserve our greatest trust.

A considerate leader thinks about the needs of others. The needs are hard to recognize when we only experience superficial relationships. Leaders must get below the surface and learn the real need and consider how to provide it.

Consideration should be a part of a leader’s daily walk in relationships. Doing so exemplifies the compassion of great leadership.