As a leader, your personal, spiritual, family, organizational and relationship health is critical to improving the health of those you are responsible for. Note Solomon’s illustration of the leader who was responsible for lots of things but couldn’t take care of himself.
“They made me the keeper (the leader responsible for others) of the vineyards (church),
But my own vineyard (personal development) I have not kept.” (Song of Solomon 1:6 NKJV)
Leaders are each responsible to be healthy ensuring a balance in spiritual and organizational health.
Healthy leaders lead healthy churches, with these points.
- Ensure your To Do List includes a ‘quiet time’ to read scripture, pray, meditate and build your relationship with your Heavenly Father.
- Review your God given spiritual gifts. Read books, study, meditate and learn about your gifts. Don’t emulate others, concentrate on building and refining what God has already given you.
- Work towards your prayerful dream. When you are alone, when you pray, when you meditate on scripture, what thoughts, dreams, ideas and plans are generated. Think on these, pray on these and put your thoughts into an action plan.
- Read in your area of interest, spiritual development, leadership skill and for general interest and relaxation
- Choose your friends from people you trust, who care for you, who invest their time in you and those you want to learn from
- Pray, seek and develop learning times with a mentor. Jethro advised Moses and Paul advised Timothy toward improved leadership.
- Reflect and learn from your failures in order to prepare for the future.
Bob Buford, in his book Half Time, quotes John Gardner: “we need to re-pot ourselves into entirely new activities as we move from success to significance, changing our activities from career to contribution.”
Leadership is growing in thought, action and deed while guiding others to lead.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
Jethro Group