Our hearts have enemies that would like nothing less than to sabotage our personal lives and ministry effectiveness. We ignore them to our peril. Which of these enemies are you ignoring?
Out of control schedules that leave too little margin for the feeding of our own souls. A starved heart cannot give life to us or to others.
Substituting professional knowledge of God for the inner transformation of our lives from God: A subtle shift that makes all the difference in the world.
Leadership success that causes us to increasingly rely on our own wisdom than being dependent on God's Spirit and power.
Professional and personal spiritual pride that keeps us from listening to God and to others around us.
The seduction of position and power that convinces us that we are different and entitled. Power and position without intentional safeguards breed deceived hearts.
Deceit which comes from the seduction of position and power allowing us to think the rules don't apply to us and to skirt ethical and truthful boundaries.
Arrogance that keeps us from listening to God and to others leaving our hearts exposed to its enemies.
Isolation which robs us of the natural accountability of close friends or others we are accountable to. Lack of accountability is a precursor to personal failure.
The praise of others which exaggerates our spiritual and professional health and underestimates our depravity and sinful tendencies. We believe it to our peril.
Using a ministry mission as a platform for a personal mission that is more about us than it is about God - hidden behind a spiritual facade.
What are the enemies of your heart and where have those enemies breached your walls and threaten to harm you? Be aware, be vigilant and guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.
1 comment:
In aviation all aircraft have an instrument package called a six pack. Unlike the six packs we commonly hear about in commercials about beer or ab workouts the aviation six pack on an instrument panel gives the pilot situational awareness about the aircraft’s position in the air during flight. I personally need to self check in life and refer to my personal six pack, i.e. Galatians 5:22-23. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control are all part of the instrument package I use (or should use) to assess how I am doing. Typically, when something happens in my life that temporarily spins it out of control I can refer to the fruits of the spirit and identify one or more that seemed lacking and resulted in a problem. Every day I should be asking myself if I am bearing fruit in all these areas and if not then ask the logical question then why not? The answer is not usually difficult and then I can readjust my personal direction, heading, and attitude and proceed on course with life even if I encounter bad weather. The enemies of a leader’s heart are truly anything that does not bear fruit. Arrogance, deceit, the seduction of position and power, et al all go against production of fruit of the spirit. It is imperative leaders are constantly doing self assessments and having people in their lives who are willing to speak the truth in love as part of the self check process.
Post a Comment