Hey Christian Leader, Want to Increase Your Leadership Capacity?

When we Christian leaders need resources to draw from, the Lord keeps saying to us, “I have the resources you need. Come to me, learn of me, follow me and I will give ...” He has given, “everything we need for life and godliness” 2 Pt 1:3 – 8. Sadly, far too many Christian leaders and professionals discount what God clearly has provided for their success.

We all want to do better and achieve more. I’ve built a business around it. For the serious Christian leader, increasing our capacity to work and lead with greater effectiveness and improved results comes with responsibility. It requires that we maintain dependence on God. And being dependent on Him means that whatever we have, energy, health, money, things, time, gifts, they are to be available for God to use as he sees fit. If he increases our capacity – for whatever and in whatever – He wants it to be surrendered to Him.

Too often, we Christian executives, leaders and professionals divorce our professional life from our private walk with God. Professionally we put in all the effort to improve, develop and rise higher. But … God does not want our effort divorced from His provision. It will simply remain ‘our effort’ and nothing more. But when we realize we have one life, a life made up of all we are and everything we do, at home, at work, in the community, publicly and privately and that it is ALL under God, then we can make real progress.

Christian leaders are more like reservoirs with an inlet and outlet through which God’s blessings flow. If there is no control at one end to conserve and reserve what has come in, that water simply flows through with limited benefit available, if it is put to use at all. But, harness that reserve and benefit can be gained even through dry seasons. Not only that, others can benefit from the overflow of the reservoir. There will be availability when normal supplies are not there. That’s when leaders stand out, drawing from reserves others may not realize are available.

God never allows the increase in your life without wanting it harnessed in the benefit of others, even if it is never seen in a public way. Otherwise the increase, the new capacity only goes to the head and puffs us up with pride. Harnessed and directed, it can be used by Him in multitudes of ways. Blessing our employees or volunteer staff, building into our community, creating improved products that help people, coaching our staff to greater lives and contribution ... and the list goes on and on.

Only in the practice of allowing good things to flow through us do we see our God-given capacity for their stewardship. We begin to understand that there is great blessing in giving and being a channel.  And only in surrendering that stewardship during the use of it do we experience the extent of the blessing God is desirous to put in to our reservoir. Often in God's way of doing things, the more we allow to flow over or through our reservoir, the more He brings in to keep it full, refreshing and useful.

Increasing your capacity in a way that is honoring to God is predicated on two things. The first is that you enjoy it. God has given it to you as a wonderful blessing in your life. You daily need to be grateful for His goodness. The second is that you use it for Him. Wise stewardship of new learning, time, space, money, energy, opportunity, love, information and wisdom is an investment made in eternal things. It advances the kingdom of God and all the good and blessing that may imply for you and your family, company, organization, church, community or world.

God is our ultimate reserve. We have everything in Christ. If our “assignment” from Him finds us feeling low on reserve, with the well appearing dry, God is there just as He is when we feel filled to the brim. Paul said he had learned a secret. It was good that others shared with him and strengthened him. Nevertheless, even without those resources he could still “do everything through Him who gave him strength.” (Phil 4:10 – 14). God is our ultimate resource.

Christian Leaders - Before Helping in Haiti

I thought this article by Pam Taylor really spelled out pretty well, some of the things we Christian leaders need to keep in mind before helping in Haiti. It's a timely reminder of what we all need when wanting to assist others.

For the Love of Haiti

Armchair quarterbacks try to come up with the answers for how to make things work in the rescue efforts in Haiti, following the earthquake. “Why don’t they just…” is often heard wherever people gather. It is all said in an effort to try to find solutions for the daily images of pain and suffering we see broadcast by the media. We are a nation that wants to help. But without knowledge of the culture and the way it functions, our hands are tied and there are bottlenecks preventing or slowing down help getting to the people its intended for.

It is difficult to understand why the help Haiti needs is not readily available in their country already…or why they can’t just google Amazon and have it delivered right to their door.

Even in the best of times, Haiti does not have the resources that we have learned to take for granted. Could it be that at least some of the problems come from confusion caused from trying to “help” Haiti through the filter of our own North American cultural mindset and habits? If that were indeed true, and I believe that it is, what can we do?

A Haitian doctor expressed sincere gratefulness on a news segment, but he then said, “But, this is our country. Don’t tell us what we have to do.” He is a doctor. An educated man. Are you wondering why he said that?

I have been a missionary to Haiti. Was it easy? NO!  Not at all. It was indeed a great culture shock. I was, however, fascinated with their culture and with the strength of the people. My own faith seemed puny compared to the faith of the Christian Haitians I came to know and love. I was grateful for their patient perseverance as they taught me how to survive in their land. The nights were eerie with the sounds of the voodoo drums and the dogs howling in response to the evil that was being called forth. It is a place where faith and character are stretched.

So following this earthquake disaster, what can we do to help the people of Haiti the way they want to be helped?

Before anything, we must pray. Pray for wisdom, for cultural understanding, for a peaceful spirit, and a kind heart. Pray for humility. Then, before you dive in:


1.    Ask them. Then listen and say it back to be sure you really understand. This is basic to any relationship. Ask what they want. Ask what they need. Ask how soon they need it. Ask what part of it they want you to do. Ask if they have ideas how it can be provided in a way that would be helpful to them…maybe by providing work for them or by providing income for their country. Remember that we don’t know what we don’t know. And they can tell us what we don’t know.

2.    Ask about cultural sensitivities. In our zest to meet the immediate needs, we don’t want our help to be perceived as interference, and we want it to be helpful long term, so cultural awareness is a necessity. We mustn’t think we already know. The why is an important aspect that is sometimes overlooked. No matter what previous experience you have had with disasters, all new disasters are unique. Go with fresh eyes and open ears.

3.    Listen to them. They had an earthquake. They have great need. Some have never been poor. They have been among the elite and they don’t know how to cope. And many others have been poor for a very long time. This earthquake has compounded their problems, but it does not mean that they should have to sacrifice dignity and honor. All people are empowered and excel when they are treated with respect. We have two ears and one mouth. Perhaps the Creator wanted us to listen with a non-judgmental heart to those in need, twice as much as we speak.

4.    Pray for the ongoing, ever-changing wisdom that is needed. It’s all about being the hands and feet of Jesus. If we keep asking Him, “What would YOU do, Jesus? Give me YOUR heart,” He will answer with a smile!

Pam Taylor is a freelance writer, Biblical lay counselor and life coach. Her passion is to help others discover their God-given strengths and invest them fully for His Glory. A former missionary in third world countries and a homeschooling mom, she understands the hidden desires of a woman called into the service of her Lord.     You can reach her at  www.loavesandfishescoaching.com

The Christian Leader's 5 Most Stress Relieving Prayers

The Christian leader's 5 most stress relieving prayers are not neat tidy little formulas which once uttered create magic. They are as much about attitude and posture as they are about pronouncement.

Every passage of scripture can form the source of a prayer that springs from the heart of the leader.  Search out your own. Make them daily habit and they will transform your life and your leadership.

Leadership is transformational. It is as much about changing the leader as it is affecting those led. Absorbing the intent of these simple lines will transform us. Living them out will transform the world.

1. Not my will, but yours be done. Luke 22:42


2. Without you I can do nothing. John 15:5
   


3. Only one thing is needed. Luke 10:42
   


4. Forgetting what is behind. Phillipians 3:13
   


5. Throw off everything that hinders. Hebrews 12:1

Perhaps the most important thing of the day that any leader or executive does is to stop and pray. We little understand the degree of blessing that comes to the men and women of a committee, an organization, a company or a country who has a praying leader.