Real leadership is what our country, state, and local communities desperately need. I believe we are suffering in this area because people don’t really know what leadership is. Most people think leadership is merely occupying a position, but it’s much more than that. It’s about humility and influence — fundamentals of real leadership — being teachable, and realizing we may be wrong at times.

Unfortunately, many think that leadership is a means to getting their own way and doing what they want, regardless of how it affects others. But if you have to keep reminding people who you are, then you are operating in the lowest form of leadership — positional leadership, which says, “I’m the boss; do what I say, or else!” If this is your style of leadership, you must realize that people intuitively know if you think you are better than they are, and no one wants to follow a leader like that.

Ultimately, we must realize, especially in the body of Christ, that we are smarter together than any one of us could ever be alone. Real leadership asks, “How can I help?” and says, “Come be a part of the team!” not “Do this,” or “Do that.” When leading others in any capacity, remember the words of Theodore Roosevelt, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Just a thought,

PSS

How is your thought life? Do you constantly think negative or sad thoughts or focus on what you can’t do, how life is unfair or how everyone is against you? Meditating on thoughts like these will only work to destroy your life and the enjoyment of it — that’s why we must learn to think better. As John Maxwell said, “Good thinking is hard work. If it were easy, everybody would be a good thinker.”

The state of our thought life has a direct effect on our health and how well we live life. In fact, research has shown that our emotional and physical health is tied to our thinking. However, this is nothing new. Science is just beginning to catch up to what God’s word has said for thousands of years. The Bible says so much concerning our thinking: from taking rogue thoughts captive, to what we should think about.

Joshua 1:8 says, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (NIV). Negative, ugly thoughts that put you down only limit and destroy your life. Godly thoughts will make you healthier and bless every area of your life, but it all begins and ends with your thought life.

Just a thought,

PSS

Although we do good and live right, at times we can grow weary if we lose focus. However, the Bible teaches us not to grow weary in doing good. Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (NIV). Unfortunately, the desire to give up and succumb to weariness can be caused by things like discouragement and boredom.

For instance, some may feel as if their best effort doesn’t seem to matter or that it doesn’t look as if they are getting ahead, so they get discouraged. For others, they may get bored — bored with their life, bored with their career. They simply get bored with all of it and become weary. However, this tends to happen when they lose sight of why they were doing good in the first place.

Once weariness sets in, people start to make some, if not many, bad decisions. They could begin to give place to ungodly thoughts or temptations that at one time wouldn’t have been much of a temptation at all. Even worse, they could get into a relationship with someone other than their spouse. Sadly, tired people make mistakes — mistakes that will cost them in the end.

See, it takes a lifetime to build a reputation and a moment to lose one — to mess one up, all because they forgot why they were doing good and grew weary. Don’t allow yourself to grow weary. Keep your focus on God, continue to do good and realize it does matter — it matters to your family, your friends and to God (see Hebrews 6:10).

Just a thought,

PSS

What does it really mean to be a Christian? For many, it’s merely a description and has very little, if anything, to do with their lifestyle. However, accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior is a commitment to be Christlike. Once you make this commitment and truly allow Jesus to be Lord of your life, you will experience radical life change — permeating the core of your being and affecting every area of your life.

Being Christian, or Christlike, should be evident in the way we think, talk, behave, and treat others, and even in the way in which we spend our money. If not, we must ask ourselves, “What’s the point?” Unfortunately, too many so-called Christians are just looking to feel better, as opposed to being better. But Jesus wasn’t humiliated and crucified, for us to carry the name “Christian” and continue to live the same as before.

If you’re a Christian, you must allow the Word of God to affect every area of your life, exposing anything that doesn’t reflect or honor God. The Bible says, “Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God — truly righteous and holy” (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Let’s renew our thinking to line up with God’s Word and honor Him with our lifestyle. As Christians, we are to be set apart and called to make a difference, but first we must change our minds.

Just a thought,

PSS

Until we are willing to change our minds, there will not be change in our lives. Many of us have good intentions, but we must be willing to change our minds if we are ever going to truly serve God and follow His ways. However, it’s your choice to change — to choose right or wrong. Once you change your mind, then you will live the life that Christ laid out for you.

We all change our minds from time to time. For instance, I might decide to go somewhere, but I change my mind and go somewhere else. See, some of us don’t serve God because we haven’t changed our minds. We haven’t come to a place where we will do whatever it takes to do the right thing. Change isn’t always easy, but to change for the good, it is always worth it.

With the help of the Holy Spirit, let’s purpose to obey God and make decisions that are pleasing to Him, then we will experience life change that will truly bless our lives. 

Just a thought,

PSS