One may tend to be quick to think that for a person to be a leader he or she must be given some grand titles and fancy accolades. I am so sorry to disappoint you all too soon but, true leadership from a Godly perspective has absolutely NOTHING to do with such!
Matthew 16:24 reminds us, "Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." A heart demonstrating true leadership will deny self to follow and do the will of God.
Many times, some individuals who the Lord wants to do a work in and those who the call of God to lead is upon their lives, they tend to recede and shrink in the background. Why? Because they have become overwhelmed with what the world portray as "leadership" and they just feel like they don't fit in or there is no place for them. These persons will shy away from coming to the forefront to carry out an assignment or instruction, because they don't feel as if they have reached the mark. Others hide themselves and what they are able to do because they are afraid that they will not be accepted by the masses.
It is very important that we pay attention to the image we portray and the message we send indirectly. There are many leaders out there that are yet to throw off that heavy cloak that the enemy has wrapped their minds in. These individuals who have become crippled by fear and rejection, in this season the Lord is bringing YOU out from the background and He is placing you at the forefront! No longer will you become comfortable in your position of silence because it is time to speak! It is time to let your voice be heard saith the Spirit of the Lord.
If you have been faced with rejection, ridicule, sabotaged, lied on, criticized, mocked, ridiculed, ostracized, abused, neglected and the ministry gift on your life has been put on trial, it is YOU that I am talking to! It is time to GET UP!
James 1:12 reminds us, "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."
Isaiah 41:10 declares, "Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."
The Lord is about to restore you! Your lost glory is coming back! He is redeeming you! He is giving you yet another chance, another opportunity and this time the enemy will have NO dominion over you because the mouth of God has spoken it!
All you need to do is to rise up and GO in the strength of the Lord and watch Him work in your life. I call forth the frontline warriors and leaders to arise, the Davids, the Esthers, the Josephs, the Nehemiahs and the Daniels to come forth from out of hiding!
Leadership is all about having influence and being able to make a lasting impact in the lives of others so that they are able to live transformed lives. When we go in the strength of the Lord He will cause us to succeed and triumph. As long as the Lord is on our side, as long as we follow HIS pattern of leadership then what have we to fear?
Doing leadership God's way has to do with:
1. Relying on the power of the Holy Spirit.
2. Having a heart of compassion and love for people.
3. Demonstrating humility in all that we do.
4. Empowering others and making spiritual deposits within them.
5. Seeing through the eyes of the Spirit and being able to discern what abilities and talents are within the people we lead.
6. Being a leader who leads by example therefore, modelling the right behaviours.
7. Ensuring that prayer becomes a daily lifestyle.
8. Being obedient and following God's divine instructions even when it does not fit your taste buds.
9. Learning how to empathize with others.
10. Having good character and demonstrating integrity.
Whenever we want to evaluate where we are and if it is that we are doing what God requires here's a question we could ask ourselves- In all I am doing, am I pleasing God or self? and if we are unable to fully come up with the answer, it is also important to ask- Where have I gone wrong? In doing so, the Holy Ghost's GPS will navigate us onto the right path according to the will of God.
Let us follow His leading today and walk in His divine will for our lives!
Shalom, shalom!
