Leading can certainly have its ups and downs in any role and organization. Something to remember as a leader is to believe in yourself and trust that you have been chosen to lead. Not always an easy thing to do, but I came across the following 8 points in a devotional reading recently and I believe these are great reminders of what it takes to be a leader:

1. God will give the leader an emotional investment in the work. You will lead with reason and cause, not just because.
2. God affirms the leader through others.  Other people believe in you and your character to lead.
3. God gives the leader mentors. You will not need to lead alone; you will be able to ask for and receive help.
4. God builds on the leader’s strengths, experiences, and background. God will use everything about you, your upbringing, education, those times spent in the wilderness / desert. He has seen how you handled yourself and what you did to come through!
5. God often refines the leader’s character in obscurity.  When nothing makes sense, you feel all alone, He is working on you. He is taking that clay and molding you into something amazing!
6. God instills in the leader the value of hard work.  Sometimes in the most mundane, difficult task is where you learn just how important or valuable something is.
7. God sustains that leader with a powerful vision. He will not let the vision He gave you whither away. He will keep it burning in your heart!
8. God brings others alongside the leader to compensate for their weaknesses. You don’t have to know everything! He will give you helpers to provide you a well-rounded team and approach to leading.

Now that you have read these 8 points, take some time, and reflect on your past or current leading. Take each point as a question and check yourself. Are you allowing God to really “choose” you as a leader or are you trying to lead on your own abilities?

Thanks for stopping by the fire,

Pastor Dennis