Tag: Prayer

Discouragement and Leadership

We learn a great deal from Nehemiah as a leader. He was a man of prayer, passionate for God and his people, courageous in the face of opposition, and he encountered discouragement but was not distracted.

Threats from external enemies, ridicule, and plots of ambush, make it easy to see how one could get discouraged. Nehemiah, however, was not distracted. The task was great, his faith was strong, and nothing kept him from finishing the objective.

Leaders can get discouraged.

Satan wants to discourage leaders so they will quit.

We must be determined, strong in faith, prayerful, passionate, courageous, and un-distracted when finishing the objective.

A Successful Definition

Success is often defined by popularity or profit, and a person or thing that achieves desired aims or attains prosperity.

Perhaps our definition should not be about “what” determines success, but “who”.

Jesus said if someone gains the whole world and loses their soul, the level of success is not worth it.

When God determines success, then we are on the right path. Can we measure success by a strong Christian family, leading others to Christ, helping someone in need, giving hope to the hopeless, lending a hand to a friend, growing in our knowledge of God’s word, and developing a close relationship with Him through prayer?

Imitating Christ

Scripture instructs us to be an imitator of Christ. Peter identifies that Jesus left an example that we should walk in His steps.

What exactly does that mean? In context, Peter’s statement to Christians related to suffering.

Hopefully, we possess a conviction to walk in His steps, even when suffering.

Our prayer is that we draw closer to our God, understand more fully the example left for us to follow, and then live our life as a reflection of His example.

Where will it take us? If we follow it through, we might just find an amazing path before us.

Compassionate Leaders…

Compassion means “to suffer together,” and no one understood this better than Jesus.

The University of California, Berkley claims that something special exists when compassion characterizes a leader: a feeling of sympathy aroused by another’s suffering and the motivation to relieve the suffering.

The guiding hand of compassion considers the suffering of someone else and acts accordingly.

The compassion of Jesus was represented in several ways. He prayed for them, healed them, fed them, and taught them.

Leaders who follow these guidelines lay a foundation that lasts into eternity.

The Future of Leadership…

How great would it be to have a crystal ball and see what the future holds? Or, would it be? We might not like what we see.

Leadership is about the future. Spiritually, nothing is more important than the future.

Pragmatically, however, leaders must consider what the future of their leadership looks like.

Questions abound, yet in the end, we must plan today to ensure a future of growth and stronger leadership.

The future of leadership must be built on prayer.
Leaders should prepare with God’s word as their guide.
Tomorrow’s leaders must be encouraged today to be ready.

Gentleness…

Gentleness provides a contrast to pride and power. Humility and lowliness are critical components of this fruit.

The other-directed nature of gentleness stands in opposition to those who foster aggression, self-promotion, and who desire positions of power.

We cultivate gentleness by altering our posture through prayer, learning to yield, and spending time with those of “no account.”

Praying for those who wrong or anger us increases the difficulty of speaking harshly to or about them.

Humility demonstrates the power to yield our will to others.

Extending hospitality to those without a worldly status or position of power also demonstrates gentleness.

Pressure in Leadership…

Pressure has multiple meanings: 1) Continuous physical force exerted on an object, 2) Persuasion, influence, or intimidation to make or coerce someone to do something.

There is no doubt leadership comes with strong elements of pressure.

How do leaders handle pressure when it arises?

The best place to begin is with fervent prayer.

Learn to relieve pressure through activity. Exercise is a start.

Create expectations that are achievable and realistic.

Break big chunks into smaller ones and focus on one at a time.

Never forget the purpose of perfecting us into the people God wants and needs us to be in His service.

Leaders and Prayer…

One of the great thoughts of scripture, and certainly needed in leadership, is the confidence of God answering prayers.

David writes, “On the day I called, you answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul.”

How can we have the confidence today?

1) In keeping with God’s will (James 4:15; 1 John 5:14).
2) In faith (Matthew 21:22; James 1:5-8).
3) With persistence (Luke 18:1-8; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
4) Without anxiety and with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6)
5) By devotion (Colossians 4:2).

The list continues throughout the Bible and, of all people, leaders must demonstrate they are people of prayer.

A Refuge for Leaders…

God is our strength and refuge. As such, He is an ever present help when we face trouble.

When the trouble is one of loss: a friend, family member, position, possession, or health, God is our help, but where does this help come from?

From His word. Throughout scripture we find strength, comfort and guidance.
Through prayer. Scripture instructs us to cast all our cares upon Him, because He cares.
From others. One of the best ways leadership is demonstrated is helping those in need.

We receive a great peace from God when we apply these areas during times of trouble.

Unscriptural or Uncomfortable…

A thin line exists between the two and leaders are challenged to recognize the difference. How?

Know the book. When knowledge of God’s word is weak, leaders will not know if something is Biblical or not.

Seek wisdom through prayer. This is not a prayer before a meeting, but a “without ceasing” approach to seek God’s guidance.

Ask the right questions. Asking why we do something opens a door to greater understanding.

Be patient. Decisions should rarely be made in one meeting. Give it time, but be careful not to procrastinate.

A few steps will help us determine the difference in what is unscriptural versus uncomfortable.