The ability to lead is critical to success in life. It's critical that we not only be able to lead others but also willing to lead ourselves. This is especially important for leaders in the ministry. Success is obedience to God and His plan. Doing what God wants you to do, not what other people want you to do. God may want you to do things that are different than what everyone else is doing. You may have to blaze trails in order to help other people follow Him.
It's not enough to just talk about being a leader. Leaders must take action to do what God wants. Being a good leader is more than just being in front of a crowd speaking or preaching. A leader must act. They must be willing to put in the work, to sacrifice their own time and energy for the benefit of others. This includes not only spiritual things but also practical things. Leaders must be willing to help people, serve them, and show them the love of Jesus.
In order to become good ministry leaders ourselves, we need to concentrate on actions rather than simple appearances. There are 3 steps in this article. But you don't have to think of them as progressive steps. Instead, think of them as things you need to do on a regular basis.
First, be aware of new opportunities that God is bringing your way.
Things are always changing, so you have to be ready for new possibilities. God is the God of new: "For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." (Isaiah 43:19) God is perpetually doing something new. God is perpetually making a pathway through the wilderness of your life and ministry toward all that He has in store. God is perpetually creating rivers in the dry wastelands that we are experiencing.
Second, watch for inspiration in the mundane of everyday life.
The wisest leaders live and breathe inspiration. They know and understand that God is with them, living in them and working in and through all things to inspire them to lead. "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9) The best way to find courage and strength, inspiration, is to know that God is with us always. In every situation, no matter how mundane it may seem, God is there working to inspire us.
Third, always seek to expand your horizons, internally, externally, and philosophically.
God said this in Isaiah 55:8: “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine." As ministry leaders, you must immerse yourself in growing and understanding God's ways. He wants you to. He wants to share His ways with you. After all you are leading at His pleasure and command.
In all of this, God is seeking for and using leaders from all gifting. You may not feel that you are a trailblazer, and you may not want to be. We need godly trailblazers as well as pioneers in ministry who will see the new things God is doing and start out on the new path He has already blazed. And of course, we need leaders who are settlers, those willing to put into operation and make the new things of God the norm.
Regardless of your gifting and makeup as a leader, these 3 steps will help you to live in success as His leader. Remember, success is obedience. "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," (Ephesians 3:20)