One thing Darrell asked Patrick and I to do was to begin praying over the characteristics God desires in a leader, to write them out, continue dwelling on them, and then bring them with us to Norway to discuss. So, this week being spring break, I have been going on day-long hikes all week and, as a result, have been blessed with some sweet time alone with God, some of which I spent praying through characteristics of a leader. A bit of what resulted from this was a great praise to the Lord for the experiences He has brought me through, both good and bad, reminding me of what can result when all eyes are focused on Him (beautiful unity), and then what results when we are focused on desires of the flesh (conflict and destruction).
Some thoughts on leading...feel free to share your thoughts too :) ...
Many times throughout the week, this one passage has rung through my ears, and has become the basis for my current thoughts on leading, so I'll share it here :
--Philippians 2:1-11--If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
thoughts...a leader is...
- devoted to God
- quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry; patient
- constantly in prayer
- observant (a characteristic God has been teaching me much about the last few years, I'll share more on this later)
- discerning and interested
- an example to believers in speech, conduct, faith, love, and purity (1 Tim. 4:12)
- humble...consider others better than yourself...taking the very nature of a servant...becoming obedient, even to the point of death
- encouraging and compassionate
- not passive...decisive and determined
- disciplined and self-controlled
- selfless
- full of rejoicing...able to see Christ in all things
Looking over these points is quite overwhelming, especially since I know I fall so short...and yet, I also know that His power is made perfect in my weakness. So, I pray that He would be all powerful in my life and shine through in each of these areas.
I'll keep coming back to these thoughts, and expanding upon them, as I pray through them some more.
To end for the night, here are two quotes I have really enjoyed from my devotionals this week:
"'For the last thirty years, I have looked for the face of Christ in the people with whom I have disagreed.' When this spirit drives us, we will be immediately protected from a feeble tolerance of others, narrow-mindedness, harsh vindictiveness, and everything else that would damage our testimony for Him who came not to destroy lives but to save them."
"The final stage in the life of faith is attainment of character. There are many passing transfigurations of character; when we pray we feel the blessing of God enwrapping us and for the time being we are changed, then we get back to the ordinary days and ways and the glory vanishes. The life of faith is not a life of mounting up with wings, but a life of walking and not fainting. It is not a question of sanctification; but of something infinitely further on than sanctification, of faith that has been tried and proved and has stood the test. Abraham is not a type of sanctification, but a type of the life of faith, a tried faith built on a real God. 'Abraham believed God.'" -Oswald Chambers