Kingdom Leaders Lead Themselves Well By Jessica Grace
True leaders start with themselves, and kingdom leaders should exemplify what it looks like to lead oneself.
Every day we are inundated with leadership skills training, podcasts on how to make the habits of a leader, apps to track new ideas, and are sold classes on how to be a better leader for the people around us.
But one of the best ways, and one of the most biblical ways to lead, is to lead yourself well first.
If you have ever heard the quote, “Show me the people you spend the most time with, and I’ll show you your future”, then you know it is not merely a quote-worthy phrase but the way in which Jesus lived his life. Jesus, the most perfect person who has ever existed, fully God and fully human, is the ultimate example of how to lead oneself well. Will we ever be as good as him? No, but if we choose to follow His example, we will be the leaders this world needs. Jesus led himself well even when it wasn’t easy and in the most challenging circumstances.
And yet, we see leaders every day dropping like flies from the yoke of leadership and responsibility because they didn’t lead themselves well in those places. We can all point a finger and make a judgment on a news headline, but do we have the guts and conviction to look in the mirror and ask ourselves and God, “Is there any offensive way in me?” It is easier to lead yourself well when everything is going well, circumstances are simple, healthy habits are formed, and you are just living your life in a happy rhythm. It is when life is difficult that you will either lead yourself or others will lead you somewhere else because make no mistake: you will either lead or be led; there is no way around that fact. Self-leadership is not just habit trackers, inspirational quotes, and reaching your financial goals, although those are good. Leading yourself well is leading your character in tough situations, leading your reactions when provoked, and leading your emotions when things get tough.
A few ways Jesus exemplified self-leadership:
1. He didn’t lose His identity to the crowd: When people would question his authority, that didn’t shake His footing, nor did He question His identity - do you?
2. He didn’t lose His integrity: When people would call him a liar, He never lost his countenance - do you?
3. He put His relationship with God first: He sought time alone with His Heavenly Father because He knew He couldn’t do it without Him - do you?
4. He measured success by an eternal measure: He didn’t care if what He was doing made sense to the world. He knew He was called to do it by God and used the same measuring stick as His father - do you?
True leadership of self looks back and is prouder of their character, stronger in conviction, the strength of identity, and a better extender of grace than they were a year ago. They measure themselves on how quickly they give compassion, how automatic grace is extended, and how uncompromising they are in their values and what God‘s called them to do. Leadership is an important topic, but it must start with how we lead ourselves.
And for all the parents, spiritual parents, and mentors, know that someone is watching you and wanting to live the way you live. There is generation after generation of leaders to look to, but the one that comes after you is looking to you to see what a good leader looks like, so do you think you would be proud of what they see, copy, and model of how you live and lead your life?
Jessica Grace is a writer, speaker and Family Communication Coach. She has a passion for God’s word and sharing about the power of words. Through her own experience, she has developed a passion for helping families communicate and grow closer together even during difficult times. With her MS in Applied Family Science, coupled with her own experiences, Jess has the knowledge and passion for helping families thrive in various seasons.