Training our Successors

MercyMe sings, "No matter the bumps, no matter the bruises, no matter the scars, still the truth is the cross has made, the cross has made you flawless! No matter the hurt, or how deep the wound is, no matter the pain, still the truth is the cross has made, the cross has made you flawless!" ("Flawless") These lyrics should remind us that God has made us perfect in His eyes through the blood of His son, Jesus, if we have been saved and have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior. Yes, we will still make mistakes. But God has forgiven all of our sins (past, present, and future) through Christ!

The central verses for tonight are Numbers 27:18-20:

So the Lord said o Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, am an in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him." (NIV)

Maxwell says, "The interaction of Moses and Joshua demonstrates that reproducing leaders is not a quick, simple process. It requires time, emotional investment, and sacrifice." Training our successors is no small undertaking; at least, it shouldn't be. We need to invest our resources in the proper amounts so as to produce the best leaders we can to follow in our footsteps. We should ask God for help and guidance to properly train those who will take our positions of leadership whenever we leave them.

Maxwell presents four areas that we need to cover with our proteges when we train them:

1. Conviction, courage, and obedience from themselves
2. Equipping from their mentor
3. Vision from God
4. Buy-in from the people

As we train our successors, we should remember these areas and guide them as best we can, enabling them to fulfill each area. With God's help, we can succeed in our training endeavors.

The reflection question tonight asks, "What are you providing to a potential leader you are training?" Are you training them fully so that they can take over without your help whenever you graduate, leave the organization, or leave the position for any other reason? Our successors must be properly equipped to take our places so that our organizations can thrive in our absence. With God, this is possible, for all things are possible with Him!

Father, please help us to properly train those who will eventually take our places. Guide us so that we give them the best advice we can, being led by You. Help us to instill in them the necessity to look to You for guidance and to trust in You, the Ultimate Leader. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen!

God bless you!

Nothing is Impossible

Building 429 sings, "We can rise above the typical and be anything but usual. We know, we know, we know that there's no such thing as impossible. And nothing is unreachable when we trust the God of miracles. We know, we know, we know that there's no such thing as impossible!" ("Impossible")

Matthew 19:26 backs up what they sing: "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"

The central Scripture for tonight is Proverbs 25:4-5, which says, "Remove the dross from the silver, and out comes material for the silversmith; remove the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness." (NIV) We must remember to cling to God and allow Him to mend us and make us into better leaders and lead better lives overall.

Maxwell says, "But God gives every one of us a good enough start to be able to finish well. It's up to us to see to our character and build trust with others so that God can use our leadership." We must let God help us, but we must also remember that we need to take action and be responsible as well.

Things will not always be easy. We must continue on even when situations get tough. But we are never alone! Hebrews 13:5 tells us, "God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" (NIV) Not only that, but God gives us strength and ability to go beyond ourselves because, as MercyMe sings, "Greater is the One living inside of me than he who is living in the world!"

Furthermore, Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do everything through Him Who gives me strength." (NIV) Trust in Him to provide for you, help you, and lead you. Rely on Him for these things so that you can effectively lead others.

Tonight's reflection question asks, "How are you working to fulfill your potential?" What are you doing with the gifts God has given you? Are you exercising them and refining them? Use your gifts for God's glory. Don't let them lie dormant. Pray to Him and ask Him to help you and lead you. Never underestimate the power of prayer, even a simple one!

No matter what we go through, God is with us! Remember, we serve the God of the impossible, and nothing is impossible with Him!

God bless you!

Leadership Priorities

"And God says, 'I'm gonna turn it into something different. I'm gonna turn it into something good. I'm gonna take all the broken pieces and make something beautiful like only I could.' So put it all in the hands of the Father. Give it up; give it all over to the only One Who can turn it into something beautiful." Steven Curtis Chapman sings those lyrics in his song, "Something Beautiful." He goes further to say (from God's viewpoint), "'When I get through, you're gonna be amazed.'" There's no better place to be, or to put our trust, than the hands of God!

The central verse for tonight is Joshua 24:15: "'Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.'" (NIV)

Maxwell says, "Starting at home is always the key to affecting others in a positive way." Priorities are important, especially in leadership. We must be able to efficiently prioritize and organize our responsibilities. First and foremost, we must put God above all else. He is our Father, the Ultimate Leader. From there, we must take care of our families. 1 Timothy 5:8 says, "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." Does that put the importance of this topic in perspective? Maxwell reiterates, "If you have a family, put them first in your leadership. There's no legacy like that of the positive influence leader can exercise with their family."

The movie Courageous depicts this principle. Its tagline is, "Honor Begins at Home." Furthermore, Casting Crowns' song bearing the same title tells us, "We were made to be courageous. We were made to lead the way."

Tonight's reflection question asks, "Where do your influences begin?"

My mom raised me to believe in and rely on God. I trust Him to help and guide me. There are times when I fail, but, thankfully, God forgives me when I fall short. We should thank God for that wonderful gift! We can pray this simple prayer: "Father, please lead me so that I can lead others well. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen!"

As leaders, it is critical that we have our priorities in the right order, especially when it comes to relationships. God must come first. Then we need to take care of our families. After that we can take care of others. Let God lead you so that you can lead others effectively.

God bless you!

Do Not Overstep your Role as a Leader

Mark Schultz sings "I Am." The song is from the perspective of God. "I am the One Who walked on water. I Am the One Who calmed the seas. I Am the miracles and wonders. So come and see, and follow Me. You will know. I Am the fount of living water, the risen Son of Man, the Healer of the broken. And when you cry, I Am your Savior and Redeemer, Who bore the sins of man; the Author and Perfecter; beginning and the end. I Am!"

The central Scripture for tonight is 2 Chronicles 26:5, 16: "He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success...But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense." (NIV)

John Maxwell says, "The choices we make nearly always reflect our true character." Keep that in mind as you go about your leadership endeavors.

Uzziah's reign began strong because he put God first and followed Him. In the New Testament, Jesus said, "'But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.'" (Matthew 6:33, NIV) Both the Old and New Testaments say that God is to be above all else. When we put Him before everything else, those other things fall into place.

Despite his strong start, Uzziah became self-centered and no longer put God first. As a result, his reign ended badly. He neglected the One Who gave him his successes and therefore suffered the penalty. The Bible gives many examples of what happens to those leaders who failed to follow the Lord.

We must remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33. God must come first. That is not optional if we want to be led by Him and enjoy His blessing on our lives. We have to remember that our leadership abilities were given to us by God, the Ultimate Leader.

The first and greatest commandment, spoken by Jesus Himself, is, "'"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."'" After that, the second greatest commandment is, "'"Love your neighbor as yourself."'" (Matthew 22:37-38, NIV)

There is a pattern in all of this: God first, then other things. It is critical to get that right. And that's not just for leaders, but for everyone.

Maxwell asks, "Examine your leadership--are you overstepping any lines?"

Think about that. If you feel that you are overstepping your role, pray that the Lord guide you so that you can correct the matter. Even if you are not overstepping, still ask Him to lead you. Pray something like this: "Father, please help me to put You first at all times. Forgive me for failing at that when I have done so, and forgive me for all of my other sins as well. Please lead me so that I can effectively lead others. Thank You for never leaving me nor forsaking me! I love you! In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen."

God bless you!

Deciding What to Follow

MercyMe sings, "No matter the bumps, no matter the bruises, no matter the scars, still the truth is the cross has made, the cross has made you flawless. No matter the hurt, or how deep the wound is; no matter the pain, still the truth is the cross has made, the cross has made you flawless!...Then like a hero who takes the stage when we're on the edge of our seats, saying it's too late, well let me introduce you to amazing grace!...Take a breath, smile, and say: Right here, right now, I'm okay, because the cross was enough...No matter what they say or what you think you are, the day you called His Name, He made you flawless. He made you flawless!" The song "Flawless" reminds us that, when God saves us, He makes us new. All of our sins are washed away! We are new! 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (NIV)

The central verse for tonight is Numbers 20:12, which says, "But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 'Because you did not trust in Me enough to honor Me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.'" (NIV)

Maxwell gives two pieces of advice on making decisions. "Never make a major decision in an emotionally low time." Doing so can cause poor judgment. Then he says, "Choose to be proactive, not reactive, in your leadership." Make the right moves when taking action and don't act out of anger or irritation.

Maxwell presents four questions to ask yourself (each is a direct quote):

1. Am I a reactor or a creator when I lead?
2. Do I play defense or offense when I lead?
3. Am I a people-pleaser or a God-pleaser when I lead?
4. Do I boss my calendar, or does someone else choose where I give my time?

The main theme I find form tonight's devotion is maintaining a level head and attitude during times of trial, and especially when angry or aggravated. Moses forfeited his part of God's gift to the nation of Israel because he acted in anger rather than following the Lord's directions. We can learn valuable lessons from that situation alone. However, it's not just about learning the lessons, but their applications as well. James 1:22-25 (NIV) says:

Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.

The reflection question for tonight asks, "What do you learn about yourself from the questions above?"

Honestly answering the questions presented earlier can help you to grow in your leadership. In his book Good Leaders Ask Great Questions, Maxwell says, "Questions are the basis of learning. But they are also a foundation for better leadership." Asking yourself questions not only teaches you more about yourself (when answered honestly), but it can also enhance your leadership!

You can pray the same prayer I did after reflecting on those questions. "Father, please forgive me for all of my sins and shortcomings. Help me to work on and fix the areas that need changing from the previous list. Grow me into a better leader, with You at the forefront. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen!"

God bless you!

Building the Team

The song, "In Your Hands," by the band Unspoken, reminds us that we need to put everything in the Lord's hands and trust that He will take care of it. There will be times that He will call us to act, but we must remember that He is in control, and to let Him be in control of our situations. "Every sorrow, I leave it in Your hands. Every sickness, I leave it in Your hands. All my failures, I leave 'em in Your hands. Amen. I can leave it in Your hands...Every promise, I leave it in Your hands. Every healing, I leave it in Your hands. And my future, I leave it in Your hands. Amen. I can leave it in Your hands." These lyrics tell us that we should not only turn to God in our times of need, but also when we prosper. He is God all the time and is beside us always. He has promised to never leave us and to never forsake us! (See Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5.)

Jesus said, "'Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.'" (John 15:13, NIV)

 Building a team and the sense of teamwork and cooperation is essential to the success of a group, organization, etc. Maxwell says, "Teams that don't bond, can't build." No single individual can do everything on his or her own. Ecclesiastes 4:12 tells us, "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." (NIV) It comes down to strength in numbers.

In an effort to build camaraderie, you should schedule social activities away from the workplace. Maxwell says that such activities help individuals bond together as a team. And I agree. Sometimes it is necessary to get away form the daily work routine and usual atmosphere so that you can relieve stress and come together in a different setting.

I recommend planning such activities about once a month. Following are some activities that I suggest.

• Have a cookout.
• Go bowling.
• Go to professional development conferences.
• Go out to dinner.

Even simple events can allow team members to socialize and build stronger, lasting relationships. Furthermore, even though professional development conferences may be held for work-related topics, there are still activities therein that can help build teamwork. And even more than that, if such an event is overnight, you can plan other social activities during times that the conference is not in session.

Maxwell asks, "How do you help your team bond?"

When I was President of the OSUIT chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the Official International Honor Society of the Two-Year College, I planned cookouts and game nights for my officers and members. Food has a funny way of bringing people together. And after we ate, and sometimes even before, we would play games. Most of the time we played Catch Phrase. That game requires groups to work together to come up with answers. Individuals must learn to communicate effectively, as well as learn how to understand what someone is trying to say. I highly recommend it for team building!

It is sometimes hard to remember, especially for me, that it's not all about work. It is healthy and oftentimes necessary to get away and just have fellowship with one another. As you plan your activities, make sure that they will provide opportunities for the team to work together, not just sit and do something as individuals. Plan events that make them come together.

Let God Lead You

Meredith Andrew's, "Not for a Moment," reminds us that the Lord is always with us. "Not for a moment did You forsake me. After all, You are constant. After all, You are only good. After all, You are sovereign. Not for a moment will You forsake me...And every step, every breath, You are there; every tear, every cry, every prayer; in my hurt, at my worst; when my world falls down. Not for a moment will You forsake me. Even in the dark, even when it's hard, You will never leave me. After all."

The central verses for tonight are Genesis 32:24-25: "So Jacob was left alone and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man." (NIV) Maxwell notes, "God had to break Jacob to make him useful. In the breaking process, Jacob--the deceiving 'heel-catcher'--became Israel, a 'prince of God' who purposed to serve God rather than himself."

As leaders, we must remember that our giftedness as such has come from God. Therefore, we need to use our gifts to serve Him and lead in an ethical manner. We should seek the good of the group as a whole rather than having and following selfish hidden agendas. Maxwell says, "Consider your natural ability to lead a gift from God, but your character a gift to present back to God." Furthermore, "A leader who goes his own way and seeks to benefit only himself cannot be an effective instrument in God's hands," he notes. God gifted you with your leadership. In turn, you should use it to serve and glorify Him.

There will be times when bad things happen. We will be challenged. In those times, and in all others, we must remember to look to God, the Ultimate Leader, and rely on Him for help and guidance. John 16:33 says, "'I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.'" (NIV)

Maxwell asks, "What adversity are you dealing with right now? How are you allowing it to build your character?" When you face trials, do you rely on the Lord to guide you and get you through them? What do you do in such times? Those valleys are opportunities to build your character. "Remember, every time you stand up under the weight of adversity, you are being prepared, as Jacob was, to better serve God and lead people," according to Maxwell. Keep that in mind whenever you face issues. Put your problems in God's hands and let Him take care of you so that you can effectively lead others. Remember, He has said, "'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5b, NIV)

God bless you!