Leadership is a word that has been a big focus over many years. When I was still working in the corporate world, there were many workshops teaching leadership skills to various levels of leaders in the business.
Books on leadership abound in bookshops and online, for all walks of life, from Corporate leaders to managers to church leaders and many more. There are good ones, not such good ones, but believe me, shelves, and shelves, both in bookshops and online on the topic of leadership.
You can even find books on Servant Leadership, which became the “new” way of leading about 20 years ago – and though found in the Scriptures, the accolades were not given to the Scriptures.
The truth about leadership, however, is not something ‘out there’ that needs to be achieved or rejected.
It is something we all need to practice, and it starts with ourselves. We don’t realise that leadership, whether desired or not, must be practiced by ourselves, for ourselves.
This is most important for us as believers.
I Corinthians 2:11-13 (NLT)
“For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.”
We have the mind of Christ with His wisdom – so we need to be leading ourselves in ensuring that we “know the things freely given by God”, not corporately, but individually.
James 4:7 (NLT)
“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
No-one else besides you can resist the devil for you. This is only something that you can do for yourself.
Self leadership is required to ensure that you are resisting what the devil brings your way.
Ephesians 5:15 – 16 (NLT)
“ So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.”
Folks, can you see how you need to be careful how you live? This is not someone else who tells you how to live, you need to lead yourself in making the decision about how you will live.
Our Christian walk does not happen “by accident”. We cannot rely on our feelings, we cannot simply “go with the flow”, we cannot simply give into our emotions – I’m sure you are getting the idea.
• When we grasp the fact that we are leaders of ourselves, with the help of the Holy Spirit, it helps us overcome the “fear of man” and helps in making the decisions that bring us life and not death.
• It should help us with our self-image. If we understand that as believers, we have the “mind of Christ”, how can we question who we are?
• If we are mindful of our walk and keep our eyes on Jesus, how can we question those opportunities that are brought to us?
Leadership is something we are called to do to and by ourselves. Its only when we understand that self-leadership is but the first step – and a step each believer is called to exercise, that we start realizing that we are leading others.
Some of us don’t want to lead others, but whether you are aware of it or not, when you start practicing self-leadership, people will notice and will start following the example you set.
1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT)
“Imitate me as I imitate Christ”
Other translations say “follow me as I follow Christ”.
When you lead others, they imitate you or follow you, and therefore you become a leader to others – intentionally or unintentionally.
Now, if we become leaders unintentionally, what are you leading others to? Realise that as we learn to lead ourselves better, we are going to be doing the things that are on Christ’s mind, we are going to be able to avoid temptation and we will find ourselves walking where Jesus wants us to.
One of the last things Jesus says to His disciples is for them to go out into the world and make disciples.
Matthew 28:19 – 20 (NLT)
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Want to know a way to do this?
Lead yourself well.
I have mentioned three ways in which you can lead yourself well, but there are so many more ways to lead yourself well, and before you know it, you will have people imitating you, following you and even asking you to help them live like you do.
I reckon that’s exciting, and I invite you on the journey of leading yourself well.
Yours in Leadership
Nadine
Women of Reverence welcomes our regular contributor Nadine Judge.
Together with her husband, are Lead Pastors at Venture Church, Randburg. Nadine is a mom to three adult children and a gran to two grandchildren. She is a Bible Teacher, Speaker and available to booked for speaking engagements in churches, ladies events and or business sector.