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A quick guide to leading yourself better spiritually.
As of this coming August, I will have been in full-time ministry for ten years. In many ways, I feel like I am just starting my journey and figuring out which direction to march. That being said, I also feel as if this time has been filled with many wins and learning opportunities for growth. One of my greatest obstacles has been learning how to best lead myself and to do so with greater spiritual intensity. This past January I was involved in a spiritual retreat with Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida and it helped reshape the months that followed. Here are three quick takeaways that could challenge you to better lead yourself spiritually.
Remember the Sabbath
In my time of ministry, it has been easy to lose “off-days” or excuse away family time for work for God’s kingdom. Clearly, God states the importance of taking time to refresh and to do so intentionally. Over the last six months, I believe I have observed a Sabbath each week and I know it has strengthened my relationship with God, my family, and increased my leadership capacity. Jesus took breaks and time to reflect and so should I.
For the soul to be well, it needs to be with God.
John Ortberg, Soul Keeping: Caring for the Most Important Part of You
Shhhh… He’s Speaking
I recently followed through a book/ devotion guide that asked for several minutes of silence to begin and end the devotion. This was new, awkward, and somewhat difficult to embrace at the beginning stages, but I quickly learned the true value of purposefully sitting in silence. I found my mind and spirit far more open to scripture, prayer, and receptive to anything the Lord was impressing upon my life. As a result, our church staff is preparing to start the same devotional as we spiritually prepare for the coming season.
Simply put, God often speaks the loudest when we are the quietest.
Mark Batterson, Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God
Consistently and Honestly Self-Assess
The first step in the path to better self-leadership is to consistently take moments of self-assessment. At the beginning of each month, I will take a morning to evaluate the previous weeks and determine what is working and what is not. This practice will shine a light on how my walk with the Lord is truly going and help better navigate where improvements can be made. I would challenge any believer to do the same, especially a one that is actively leading others into new realms of Christian growth.
Spiritual leadership emerges from our willingness to stay involved with our own soul – that place where God’s Spirit is at work stirring up our deepest questions and longings to draw us deeper into a relationship with him.
Ruth Haley Barton, Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership
No matter the length of your service or capacity in which you serve, growing in your walk with the Lord should always be the top priority. Take this blog as a challenge to find your own areas of growth. Maybe your takeaway is that you are doing great or maybe you need to find a new approach to hearing God’s direction for your life. No matter your personal situation, know that believers around the world are praying with you and for you and God’s kingdom is better because of your service to Him.
