The Self-Leadership of a Leader

Galatians 5:16. “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

There is no doubt that during our daily lives there are times when we think negative thoughts and experience hard feelings. We all have instincts that we want to trust in. Some of us are more naturally intuitive than others whereas some of us judge by things that are measurable or definable. Oftentimes we find a way to keep things positive or find the good in someone or something.

As mature people who are growing in our faith, though, we know that there are also times when these are discerning thoughts and mature feelings, based on God’s teachings and training in our lives.

But there also may be times when our disagreeable thoughts and negative feelings come from the part of us that is not of the Spirit, but from our human nature, which means that selfishness, defensiveness, insecurities, or a host of other issues may be the root of what we’re thinking and feeling. How can we know the difference?

In a ministry as large as Insignia, there is a high likelihood that many of those involved with us (including us as leaders!) have some matters in our lives that bring regular negative thoughts and feelings. The important first application is to ask: “Is this from the Lord, or is this from my sinful nature?” Such self-honesty is the root of self-leadership which leads to self-control and a step towards faithfulness. Let’s be spiritually reflective—and honest—before we mentally and emotionally opt in or out of what God may be doing in a big way.

Christians are well known for sharing “testimonies” of how we became believers. Often missing, though, is the wonderful testimony of how God is working our lives currently. How long has it been since you’ve given testimony of God revealing a blind spot to you? How long since a time when you’ve been clearly and dramatically wrong? How long since our testimony has been about God’s grace in the midst of a specific sin, not just the general idea of imperfection? If it’s been awhile, perhaps it’s time to be humble before God and return to life by the Spirit, and not of ourselves.

A Prayer for Leaders: “Heavenly Father, help me to live by the spirit, and not be controlled so much by my human nature. Teach me more about what that means. Help me to be honest with myself. Give me the courage to engage with You at that level. Help me to experience your spiritual power at a deeper level than I ever have before. I pray confidently and humbly in Jesus’ name, Amen.”