Great leaders lead with both knowledge and understanding. As a leader, always remember it’s your responsibility to lead and feed. More than ever, people are looking for someone to lead them with wisdom and understanding, and to feed them the things that will elevate their lives and their leadership.
Here are 4 qualities that describe the type of shepherds God is calling leaders to be:
1) GOD’S LOOKING FOR SHEPHERDS THAT CARRY HIS HEART
God raises up people who have His heart. His heart is for others! God is all about loving and caring for people. This is the heart good shepherds lead with.
How do you receive God’s heart? By surrendering to His presence.
GOOD SHEPHERDS spend time in His presence and receive His heart.
2) GOD’S LOOKING FOR SHEPHERDS THAT ARE FULL SO THEY CAN FEED
Shepherds are able to lead AND pour into people’s lives. A leader can’t pour into people what they don’t have.
You can’t lead on empty; it is impossible to shepherd while all dried up. It is a leader’s responsibility to stay full.
Don’t just love the idea of staying full, actually do it! Spend time in His presence and in His Word. So many people love the idea of pursuing Jesus, but staying full is about ACTION.
GOOD SHEPHERDS make it a priority to stay full so they can pour into others.
3) GOD’S LOOKING FOR SHEPHERDS THAT KEEP THEIR HEART SHARP
Jeremiah 10:21 says this: “For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, and have not sought the Lord; therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.”
If there’s an issue chopping the wood, it mostly comes down to a dull blade. Sometimes, the problem isn’t with the wood - it’s with the blade.
This leads me to ask: If the shepherds have become dull-hearted, what is the status of the sheep? People will never surpass the leaders of their organization.
GOOD SHEPHERDS don’t let their hearts grow dull. Good shepherds always have something FRESH to say.
4) GOD’S LOOKING FOR SHEPHERDS THAT WILL LOOK AFTER HIS PEOPLE
Don’t bother worrying about your platform or about how many eyes are watching you. God decides how much influence you will have. Stay focused on the people God has entrusted into your care!
Be a shepherd whose main concern is the people they lead. Be a shepherd who is able to genuinely care about each member of the flock and bring value to each of their lives.
GOOD SHEPHERDS more concerned about their flock than their personal influence.
Let’s remember these things as we lead people.
You're made to lead, and we need you!