Godly Leader

Hey ya’ll! 🙂

It’s been a min. since I last wrote a post on here, but I wanted to share something that God put on my heart about one month ago. I had just attended the Freedom Challenge Estes Park climb. What is the Freedom Challenge?, you might ask. The Freedom Challenge is a movement of passionate women dedicated to freeing oppressed and enslaved women and children all around the world. We do this by participating in physical challenges that test our limits, while raising funds and awareness to combat these dark, social injustices and set women and children on the pathway to freedom.

My physical challenge that week in Estes Park, CO. was to hike about 30 miles in 3 days. For those who know me… you know that this is no simple task. (My exercise pretty much consists of walking to the french press in the morning.) 😉 During the hikes, the Lord revealed Himself to me in ways that I could not have expected. One of the things He did was push my heart and test my understanding of what it meant to be a Godly leader. Here are just a few things I wrote down in reflection on the plane ride home:

 

1. A Godly leader listens to the needs of the people they are leading.

   James 1:19- “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”

2.  A Godly leader lifts up those that are leaders themselves and gives them opportunities to use their gifts. 

1 Thessalonians 5:11- “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”

3. A Godly leader blesses people with the words of their mouth. 

Ephesians 4:29- “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”

4. A Godly leader is patient and waits for those who are not yet leaders to be matured through Christ. 

Ephesians 4:2- “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.”

5. A Godly leader is aware of their weaknesses. 

2 Corinthians 12:10- “That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

6. A Godly leader is aware of their strength. 

Habakkuk 3:19- “The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.”

7. A Godly leader is more concerned with the growth of those they are leading than with promoting themselves. 

Romans 12:1-3a. “We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things… We must not just please ourselves.  We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.  For even Christ didn’t live to please himself.” 

8. A Godly leader is continually filled up with Jesus, so that they can continually pour out to others. 

Romans 15:3- “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

9. A Godly leader prays for those that they lead. 

Romans 15:30- “Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit.”

10. A Godly leader is able to identify and separate truth from lies. (in their own life and in the lives of those they lead)

Romans 16:17-18- “And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them.  Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.”

 

Needless to say, sitting on the plane and having God whisper all of these truths into my heart was just a little on the convicting side. I pray that you who are reading this will also be convicted and challenged to be a Godly leader in the ways that He desires you to be.

To Him be the glory forever ❤

Love,

Abbey Nicole