Abraham
Lincoln, Queen Elizabeth, Bill Gates, Malala Yousafzai, Bono, Mother Teresa -
all very different leaders. Some broke new ground and were a voice for the
marginalised and disadvantaged, while others ruled nations. But they all
led.
Like these incredible men and women, you are a leader.
In this day and age there is no shortage of leadership
material. Podcasts, blog posts, seminars, books, even Pinterest quotes offer
endless inspiration when it comes to leadership.
Despite this, many still struggle to lead well. Some struggle
to lead at all. But leading is not an option, it is a quality of being human.
God gave authority, dominion and power to all men and women when He formed the
world. We are created to lead and lead well.
We fail to recognise ourselves as leaders.
What do you think of when I say leadership? Executives? Prime
Ministers? The illustrious list of names at the beginning of this piece?
Do you think of yourself? Do you see yourself as a leader?
The greatest reason many fail to lead well is because they
refuse to acknowledge themselves as leaders. They believe themselves not
qualified or incapable of leadership. They see themselves as insignificant and
unworthy.
There is a saying that there are no born leaders. I disagree.
Every individual is a born leader. According to 1 Peter 2:9 you are a priest and king. We were all
born to lead.
Not acknowledging yourself as a leader is not humble. The
excuse of, "But I'm just a..." doesn't cut it.
Denial is more than refusing to acknowledge yourself as a
leader, it is a lack of leadership. And a lack of leadership always hurts
someone.
Your kids don't need poor leadership. You spouse doesn't need
poor leadership. Your co-workers don't need poor leadership. Children
trafficked through Europe don't need poor leadership. Starving families of
Africa don't need poor leadership. They need strong leadership from you.
There
is no excuse. The world needs your leadership. Step up and lead.
We treat leadership as
a right.
The recent surge in leadership propaganda has prompted some
to believe leadership is a right. Leadership is not a right. Leadership is not
a title. Leadership is not an award or promotion. If you wait for an invitation
to lead you are not being a leader.
Leadership is initiative. It is pioneering.
Jael was just a girl in a tent. No one asked her to do
anything. There was no expectation. She had no title. Yet she recognised
opportunity and even when no one was watching, she decided to lead.
That, my friend, is true leadership at its best.
We don't lead from
grace.
Modern perceptions of leadership are more like dictatorship -
where the authority figure rules with an iron fist. But that is not the example
of leadership we see in Jesus. Jesus led as a servant. He led by grace.
Leading is not humiliating someone back into line. Leadership
is not manipulating the situation to get your way. It is not a climb to the
top, abusing everyone in your path.
Leadership is best when comes from the position of grace.
Grace paves the way so followers don't get hurt. Grace releases others into
their potential. Grace makes provision for mistakes. Grace is authentic. Grace
leads as a servant.
So get out there and
lead well.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10 There was a man named Jabez who was
more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his
birth had been so painful. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh,
that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that
I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his
request.
The essence of leadership is expansion. And it is not
comfortable. It is hard. But you can handle it. Because you are a born leader.
Search out the leader within and grow to become that person.
There is always pain in birthing something new. Jabez may have prayed for
expansion, but his mother felt it first.
Leadership will extend you and push you past the limits of
yourself. It will take you to foreign ground and challenge your strength.
Father is ever present and He will deliver you from trouble.
You are more of a leader than you recognise. Don't hesitate.
Step into new opportunities. Unleash the leader you were born to be. You are a person
who leads well.
Source: Crosswalk.com
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