Over the years many great, and perhaps some not so great, leaders have offered us their ‘keys’ to a better life.
I do not propose to have all the answers to how to lead better, indeed I have much still to learn. However recently I felt God impress on my spirit 7 keys to leading better. Each begin with the letter ‘P’, so hopefully that may help you memorise the keys, regardless of whether you lead at home, at work, in the community or at church.
None of these keys should be new to Christians but in this teaching, we bring them together so that the outcome of their application can be Christians, leading better, wherever they lead.
Key 1: Prayer
Leadership is a tough job. None of us can do it alone. The good news is we don’t have to. God is with us all the way. Prayer has been given to us as a direct line to the throne room. We don’t even have to make an appointment. Now that’s good news!
Recently I was reminded of Psalm 118:5 which says: “I called on Jehovah in distress: Jehovah answered me and set me in a large place.” God not only wants to answer our prayers, but he wants to enlarge us.
A daily lifestyle of prayer helps us to believe God for more.
Wherever you lead, you will lead better when you make prayer a priority.
Key 2: Position
I know many people who strive for position. They want the title, they want the power, they want the prestige. However, in God, we already have been given a position, one that we do not have to strive for. Ephesians tells us that “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”
Knowing who we are in Christ and knowing that we have been seated in heavenly places will help us to lead better and will enable us to stand against the battle that wants to rage in our mind.
Wherever you lead, you will lead better when you remember that you have been positioned with Christ, in heavenly places.
Key 3: Promises
Leaders are great at making promises. Sadly, not all leaders keep their promises, creating an atmosphere of distrust amongst those they lead. However, in God, we can be assured that His promises will come to pass.
Knowing the promises of God gives us a confidence to lead, even when we do not feel able to: Deuteronomy 31:8 tells us: ‘The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Wherever you lead, you will lead better when you make it a daily practice to declare the promises of God.
Key 4: Posture
It has been said that our posture determines how others see us. If that is true then having a posture, underpinned by the word of God, will ensure that our posture is not only right in the eyes of man but also in the eyes of God. Kneeling before God enables us to stand with confidence before men.
As Christians, who lead, we know that we will come under attack. To enable us to continue to stand with confidence we choose to follow the instructions in Ephesians 6:13 which says “Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Wherever you lead, you with lead better when your posture comes from your confidence in Christ.
Key 5: Power
Like me, you may have come across a few ‘power hungry’ leaders, who love the power more than they love the people they lead. However, in God we have no need to be power hungry because God has already given all power and authority unto us through Christ Jesus.
The power of God in us, enables us to achieve more than we ever thought possible. Ephesians 3:20 says: “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
Wherever you lead, you will lead better when you know that the power of God is at work within you and through you.
Key 6: Purpose
Over the years, a number of people have asked me to help them identity their purpose. Put simply, like Abraham of old, our purpose is first and foremost to fulfil God’s purposes in our generation. In doing so we know that we will seeing ‘His Kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.’
To do so God has given us his grace and righteousness so that we might rule and reign in this life. Romans 5:17 in the Amplified version says: “… much more surely will those who receive [God’s] overflowing grace (unmerited favour) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).”
Wherever you lead, you will lead better when you know that your purpose is to lead with the grace and favour that God has placed upon your life.
Key 7: Praise
Some leaders love to receive praise and recognition for what they have done. However, as Christians, who lead, our desire must be that all of the praise and recognition goes to God. It is not about us. It is all about God, the one who is truly worthy of all our praise.
The Psalmist tells us in Psalm 9: “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.”
May we too make praise a key part of our leadership, giving praise to God in all things, knowing that all that we do is done in His strength.
Wherever you lead, you will lead better when you have a continual attitude of praise for all that God has done, all that God is doing and all that He will yet do through you and through those you lead.
Tommy Stewart
Founder of Christians Who Lead