A note from Kelly King: Many times we talk about purpose in ministry, but not as much about purpose in leadership. Actually, they are both important. As God has called you to lead others, be purposeful in living out your personal calling and walk with the Lord. I know you’ll be encouraged by Jessie Seneca’s article today.
Although some are born with a natural bent toward leadership, it can be learned. Regardless of where you find yourself, effective and purposeful leadership requires each of us to develop our skills and deepen our knowledge. Sometimes, as leaders, we can allow the clutter in our lives to overshadow the necessity of living close to God. Clutter can be anything from doing what’s good but not best, saying yes when no was necessary, working when rest was needed, or choosing busyness that seems productive when God wanted stillness.
As the summer months approach and a less-hectic schedule finds us, hopefully you can breathe deeply and refocus your days and desires for the call upon your life. Psalm 86:11 tells us, “Teach me Your ways, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.”
3 Steps to Purposeful Leadership
1. Teach Me Your Ways. It all starts with allowing God access to your heart, mind, body, and soul. You and I must yearn to live for Christ, cherish His Word, and strive to put it into practice. Once you commit to knowing the Father’s heart through the (daily) study of His Word, you will be able to apply it to yourself and your team. Whether or not your work is in ministry or a secular environment, it will dramatically impact your leadership more than any other book or resource. Ask God to open your mind to understand Scripture (Luke 24:45). The greatest leaders are the closest followers of the one true Leader.
Purposefully live out what you learn as an example to your team.
2. Walk in Your Truth. Here lies your walk: emulate Christ’s character in how you live. It is what drives your purpose. It is your true north. What you believe deep in your core will dictate how you walk. It will affect your reactions, responses, and motives. Not only do you want to walk out your calling with great purpose, but you want those you work with to walk it out as well. But you, as their leader, must show by example. Leadership is a tough road to walk at times. It is one that will require you to draw strength from One higher than yourself.
Purposefully walk with excellence and intentionality as your guide.
3. Unite My Heart to Fear Your Name. Desire to have an undivided heart that is completely devoted to the Lord, above all else. To love Him as your first and forever love. Strive to allow your heart’s desires to fall in line the the Lord’s, continually testing your motives against His will. Bear each other’s burdens and share in each other’s joys. In Romans 15:5-6, we read, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Purposefully commit to unite your heart with God’s will and pour out that same love to your team members.
May you and I not get so distracted by the work at hand, that we lose sight of the One who gave us the work to accomplish.
Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
Watch the path of your feet
And all your ways will be established.
Do not turn to the right nor to the left;
Turn your foot from evil.
—Proverbs 4:25-27 (NASB)
Jessie is the founder of More of Him Ministries in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She has been leading women in the local community and churches for over twenty-five years. Jessie offers an annual women’s leadership conference called SHE Leads. She has also worked with Lifeway as a Living Proof Live and Priscilla Shirer Live City Coordinator and Northeast Simulcast Specialist. She is a wife and mother of two adult daughters and wonderful sons-in-law. Most days you can find her walking her two golden-doodles, Murphy and Bella.
