After I finished the first post God prompted me to make this one too in the same area of leadership and stepping up but in a more practical way. So here it is.
One thing about God that has always made me wonder is why does he ask questions. In the Garden of Eden when man first sinned, he said ‘Adam, where are you?’ and so often in my own life He has asked me many questions. For so long I’ve been thinking to myself ‘God, don’t You know everything? You even know my thoughts, You know about stuff that I haven’t even done or thought about doing, You know stuff that I don’t think anyone else in this world would care about like how many hairs on my head. So why do you still ask me questions that you know the answer to?’ Listening to a sermon I got the answer. It’s because God wants us to find the answer for ourselves. Its even a teaching method, at school the teacher would ask the class questions they already know the answer to. They even have the answer written right in from them too.
This so far has been pretty pointless in regards to the subject matter but I want to bring it together with a simple question that God has asked me so many times ‘What are you going to do about it?’ This questions always got me. I was always asking God after He had asked me that ‘Why can’t you just tell me?’ This would get no response then to try and make God answer I would say ‘God in Your Word it says that “You’re way is higher than my way” so how about You just tell me how You would do it cos its so much better than what I could come with.’ Just for all those who are thinking ‘Dude, your a genius! You’re like smarter than Stephen Hawkins.’ Sorry to say …it doesn’t work but yes I am a genius.
The first post was about overcoming the fear of inadequacy but this post I want to address the practical steps. Once we know where we stand as God’s chosen people what’s our next move. We so often hear things and do nothing in response sometimes its because we don’t know what to do and other times we are just lazy. Either way if we stop there its about as useful as tits on a bull (thank my dad for this awesome saying) but honestly it is. Its like studying for a subject hardcore, so much to the point where you can recite the textbook, word for word, forwards, backwards, upwards, downwards, which ever -wards you want, but you go in to the exam and just sit there and do nothing. There was no point in studying in the first place. So this is just some simple things that I personally have done or started to do or going to start to do. There is more that you can do but you need to answer God question ‘What are you going to do about it?’.
Seek God. He is the ultimate help start with this in regards to everything. He has wrote a book thats pretty good (the word on the street), its the only book people have more than one of - on purpose!! He is also all knowing and has ultimate wisdom. Ask Him to bless you. Be like Jacob, wrestle with Him, say ‘I’m not letting you go till you bless me.’ You lose no matter what but God will pour forth blessing on you.
The best way to learn how to do something is to watch someone else do it. This is why leaders are called to lead by example and Paul says ‘follow ME as I follow Christ.’ Look at what your leader does, make them as your role model. Figure out what their style is. Find their strengths and make them yours too. Look at their weaknesses and see how they overcome them and apply that to your life if applicable. Look at what they conduct themselves. Its not enough to see WHAT they do but also to look at HOW they do it and their find out WHY they do it. Be a copycat, mimicker of them. Having said this we need to follow the second part of what the Apostle Paul says ‘… as I follow CHRIST.’ If your leader does it but Christ wouldn’t … what do you think you should do. Don’t just follow your leader but look at a range of leaders with in your group. Each have different styles, strengths, weaknesses etc etc.
Spend time with them. Hang out with them there is only so much that we can analyze about them just from watching them. Hanging out is more than just watching a movie or playing lan or shopping ask them questions. Seriously interrogate them, tie them to a chair, lock them in a room do something so they can’t escape (no bodily harm please). Find out what works, find out what doesn’t, find out common issues that need to be dealt with for that certain group of people, find out struggles that as a leader they deal with, find out everything. No matter should be left untouched. Ask them ‘As a leader is it better to lead wearing boxers or briefs?’ If they say go commando by them some underwear.
Self study. Read a book - John Maxwell is a good place to start. Podcast, Sermons, Workshops, Conferences. Leadership conferences aren’t just for leaders, its targeted to them but not exclusively for them.
Do it. There is only so much that we can learn from books, people, conferences etc. put theory into practice and always be ready to change, ready to tweak. What works one week won’t necessarily work the next week. People change, people come into your group, group dynamics change, change is going to happen regardless how much you try to stop it.
This a quick list and by no means complete. These are somethings that I have taken on board but having said that there is more to learn on this subject funnily enough I ain’t even a leader hahaha I’m just supporting people at the moment. We need to get ready in whatever season we are for the future, prepare ourselves so that when we are called up we can do the job and serve the best we possibly can.