Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Encouragement & Wisdom for Leaders #2: Philippians 1:9-11

We all know areas we need to work on as leaders. But don't go into your next week or next season simply knowing an area that needs work. Be intentional now and start putting a game plan together to move from knowing to doing. Great leaders aren't known for what they know, they are known by what they do.

In the Marines I learned many life-impacting lessons. One in particular is the 6Ps: "prior planning prevents piss poor performance". If you want to succeed and exceed as a leader, then develop the habit of prior planning. Otherwise, you will continue to waste good effort on poor results. Start now and begin to think through a game plan to do what you know you need to work on. Below is a good place to start.

"I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God."
-Philippians 1:9-11 (NLT)

This was Apostle Paul's prayer as a shepherd. This is my prayer for you as a leader/shepherd. May this be a prayer you pray for yourself. And may this be a prayer you pray and pursue for those you lead/shepherd.

Set your mind this week, this month, this season to let the love of Christ overflow in you and through you. Set your mind this week, this month, this season to be intentional in growing in knowledge of God and understanding of His Word. Set your mind this week, this month, this season to "approve the things that are excellent" (v10a, NKJV). Set your mind this week, this month, this season to live pure and blameless. Set your mind this week, this month, this season to bear the fruit of a righteous character produced in you by Jesus. Set your mind this week, this month, this season that whatever you do you do so to bring much glory and praise to God. Know that as you are setting your mind to these things this week, this month, this season, you are not doing so alone. The Holy Spirit is working in you "both to will and do for His good pleasure" (2:13, NKJV).

11/2015