Art of Leadership With Brian HoustonSample

The facts of life and leadership

As we’ve seen, leadership can be a learned art – even for a born leader. The art of leadership comes through a commitment to learning and developing the skill to lead others. Leadership is a calling - not just a skill, or job, or title, and is the path to God’s will for your life. With this in mind, I’ll leave you with some final thoughts to ponder…

God’s will for your life matters, so when you face difficult situations, remember your future is in your hands. Some experiences can leave you feeling defeated, but progress requires the courage to explore new things. Circumstances, disappointments, and failures do not have to determine your future. Past experiences do not have to determine your future, so don’t base your life on them, because some can leave you jaded and cynical. Let experience be your servant, not your master.

What is in your spirit impacts every other part of your life. David knew how important the condition of his spirit was to his future when he prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps 51:10). A broken spirit is like a city without walls, leaving you defenseless. Refuse to allow anyone or anything else to rule your spirit in a negative way because your spirit is your responsibility.

Every day is a gift, and everyone has only 24 hours in a day. David prayed, “teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”. Sometimes life gets busy, but you can be busy from a place of rest — you really don’t have to live rushed and stressed. How do you use the time you have and are you making time for the things that matter?

God’s Word measures and checks your life. Can you see something in you that needs to change? No one inherits their faith in God, which is why it is so important to study His Word because that’s how you’ll grow personally and in your relationship with God. 2 Tim 2:15 says, “Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth” (AMP). Do you really believe God is Who He says He is? What do you believe about life and yourself? It’s not only what you believe but who you believe that matters. Paul said, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (2 Tim 1:12) Your life will follow the pathway to your belief because ‘right believing means right receiving’ — so don’t believe the lies! Instead, make God’s Word your foundation — it’s simple but revolutionary.

Remember, your leadership is unique to you and will unfold as you continue to move through life with a heart of wisdom, staying your path. I pray your eyes have been opened to your leadership potential and that you are inspired to reach beyond self-imposed limitations to embark on a lifelong journey of growth and learning.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. — Eph 3:20 (MSG)