Leadership is often a lonely and difficult road. Excellence is found in the ability to persevere when the path gets steep.
"Put the agendas away," he said quietly. "I’ve been a terrible leader to you. I’ve been a driver, not a shepherd. I asked for excellence in your work, but I neglected excellence in your souls. And my own."
| Letter | Principle | Daily Question | |--------|-----------|----------------| | | Surrender | Have I submitted my plans to God today? | | P | Prayer | Have I prayed for those I lead by name? | | I | Integrity | Is there any hidden sin or exaggeration in my words? | | R | Responsibility | Am I taking ownership, not blaming others? | | I | Invest | Who am I intentionally developing this week? | | T | Thankfulness | Have I affirmed and celebrated others today? | Leadership is often a lonely and difficult road
Excellence requires the ability to listen. Spiritual leaders don’t just make "good" plans; they seek "God" plans through discernment and patience.
Spiritual leadership is not reserved for the "professional" clergy or the naturally charismatic. It is the birthright of every believer who chooses to live with intention. By embracing integrity, servanthood, and vision, you transform your sphere of influence—be it your home, your workplace, or your community—into a reflection of God’s kingdom. "I’ve been a terrible leader to you
Elias looked out his office window, watching the sun set over the parking lot. The headache was gone. The frantic buzzing of the fluorescent lights had been replaced by a quiet peace. He wasn't just a manager anymore. He was finally becoming a spiritual leader.
| Sphere | Role Example | Leadership Action | |--------|--------------|--------------------| | Family | Parent, spouse, sibling | Modeling faith, leading devotions, resolving conflict redemptively | | Workplace | Colleague, manager | Ethical decision-making, serving subordinates, influencing upward | | Church | Small group member, volunteer | Teaching, serving, encouraging, confronting in love | | Community | Neighbor, citizen | Showing compassion, initiating peace, sharing hope | | Online | Social media user | Posting with grace, correcting misinformation, building others up | And my own
He met with the youth pastor, Marcus. Instead of demanding higher attendance numbers, Elias asked about Marcus’s walk with God. They spent the hour in confession and prayer.
Common pitfalls include:
Thorne invited Elias in, saw the distress on his face, and poured two cups of tea without a word. Finally, he pointed to a worn, blue book on his shelf. It was Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders.