In my various roles as husband, father, pastor, prayer-evangelist, chaplain and writer I have one driving desire: I want the people that I live with and interact with to discover their purpose and potential and live in perfect peace and overcoming victory. My desire is that everyone I know comes to a knowledge of all that God has for them in this life and the next. As such I want to help them find all of the strength, wisdom, provision, hope, and more that is needed. The reality though is that I don’t know what each person’s calling, gifting and potential is. And even if I did I don’t know the words to say or the things to do that will help them discover and receive all those things. As a leader of others it seems that we are often encouraged to “play to our strengths” and “put our best foot forward”; in life and business we are encouraged to show how much we know. But in deep moments of lucidity and clarity (which ultimately come by revelation of the Holy Spirit in prayer) we come to realize that we really don’t know what is best for us or others. We don’t know the “right” way to lead or the “right” words to say. At best when we are leaning on our own understanding, we are making a guess based on some books we have read or some personal experiences we have had. So in leadership, what exactly are the “right” words to say and “right” things to do to help people find their purpose and potential?
I don’t know. Our role as leaders is not to pass out our “pearls of wisdom” but to help people in their journeys of discovery. Our role as leaders is not to convince people but rather to help people receive what God is already speaking to them. Our role as leaders is not to have the “right” words but instead to have a humble and teachable heart, and be available for God to use us. After all, what are the right words to help people going through a tragedy or grief in their lives? I don’t know. Often pastors and counselors are instructed more in what not to say in these situations. What are the right words to say that will help people develop hard work, integrity, honesty, perseverance, creativity? We don’t know. Sometimes two kids raised in the same household and exposed to the same teaching and experiences will develop completely different characters.
So are we to do as leaders? We must ask the Lord to shape our inner being, our heart. If our heart is right, God will be able speak to and through us as He fills us and flows through us. So to lead others we must first be led. To help others become like Jesus, we first must allow Jesus to make us like Him. I have noticed that people who are heard, loved, invested in, encouraged, prayed for and not left alone will begin to hear and discover for themselves all that God is speaking/revealing to them. So really our leadership of others is more accurately “let”-ership. We must learn to let God have His way in us and we have to learn to let others discover for themselves what God is offering to them.
So, let us strive not nearly so much to get our leadership “perfect” as that we allow God to perfect our inner motive and attitudes, so that what comes out can be used to help others. My prayer is that God changes my heart , humbles me, grants me His Spirit, His mind and His attitude. I want to be an empty vessel God can fill and use to draw other people to Himself. This is the goal of my life and leadership and I am regularly asking the Lord to do this in and through me for His glory. I hope and pray you are doing the same!
Pastor Michael Johnson 