Becoming A Leader In Your Life
“And the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you”. Joshua 3:7 NKJV
In this verse, God promises Joshua that he will begin to lift him up in the sight of all Israel. What does God mean by this? This indicates (and other versions express this), that God is going to start making Joshua a leader in the eyes of all His people. Remember that Moses had led them all the way through the wilderness and now that Moses was dead. They had to see a new leader and God chose Joshua.
In the Body of Christ, there have been many books written on becoming Christian leaders and how to develop leadership skills, but a lot of people look past that because they do not see themselves as leaders in the Body of Christ. They think that it does not pertain to them. But the reality is that every one of us has leadership responsibilities in this life and, as such, we need to learn to become leaders. We need to be open to the Lord beginning this day, to develop us into leaders as we are open to being developed.
I know most of you will never be the leader of a ministry or organization. Perhaps you will never be asked to be a leader in your church and because of this you do not think of yourself as a leader and you do not think that God needs to develop those skills in you. But you are a leader whether you see it or not because you need to take leadership of your life under the authority of Jesus. You do!
Most people just go through their lives and react to the events of the day. Things happen and they respond as best they can in faith. Being reactive is never as successful as being pro-active. You don’t have just to be blown through life, taken in the direction of the winds of your life. Be the leader of your life and take control. Jesus had a plan for your life before you were even born. Jesus had a plan for your day today before you born. His plan for you is for your good and His glory. His plan is the plan that you want to have unfolded in your day. You don’t want the events of life in this fallen world to dictate your day. You want to be in control of your day through your authority as the steward of your life under Jesus. Stewardship means it is His life, but He has left it in the stewardship and care of you. So you have the power and authority of the one who has ultimate power and authority over your life, Jesus.
In that power and authority be the leader of your day so you are pro-active and not reactive. Accomplish the things that He has set before you today. If you submit yourself to His headship and learn to be the leader of your life under Him, you will walk in victories and he will exalt you in the eyes of others, who see the power of leadership under His Headship. Become the leader of your life starting today.
J Todd Hostetler