Follow the Leader, Leader

Every one of us is a leader and a follower.  We follow God looking to anyone who can encourage, edify and inspire us along the way.  We lead our children, friends and family and others under our influence.  We follow and lead our husbands at the same time as we are both in prayerful submission and chaste conversation.  At any given time on any given day we are both followers and leaders. 

Women are well known for our ability to multitask, however, we can have a tendency to either follow well or lead well seasonally.  It is crucial to our walk that we are obedient and attentive to those God has placed over us yet at the same time it is vital for our children, friends and others that we stand firm on what we believe, not wavering, armed with the gospel and always a light regardless of the darkness around us. 

Being a submitted follower and strong leader at the same time is difficult, but there is good news; Matthew 19:26 tells us~But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

As the mothers of the next generation, we have an enormous responsibility on our shoulders.  We are raising the future.  We have to be on point.  We must raise our children to be obedient to authority, to trust in the Lord with all their heart and to be people of integrity doing all things as unto the Lord. 

As God's daughters we have the same responsibility to our peers.  Onlookers should be able to give a good report on our account, a godly report.  Pastor Fred Burleson of Living Faith Christian Center teaches that ALL of us are in ministry.  Whether we like it or not, whether we would have chosen work in the house of the Lord or not, we are walking, living and speaking the testimony of Jesus Christ.  As soon as we are born again, we are a testament to the power of God.  We are either showing those we lead that God is able, or that He isn't. 

While working for a local hospital, we were trained on what is appropriate "on stage" and "off stage" behavior.  On stage is when any guest or patient can see or hear an employee.  Off stage is when they can't.  Break room~off stage, cafeteria~on stage.  This is an important point because most of us eat in the cafeteria.  We're on break, but we're still on stage.  It is supposed to be a time of relaxation, but because we are in eye and earshot of guests and patients, we must still conduct ourselves in a way that positively represents the hospital.

Now, the exact same thing applies to our lives as Christians.  We don't have the luxury of always learning and never teaching.  Must do both.  The only time we are not on stage is when we are alone with ourselves and God.  That time too is precious because He will both fill us up to be able to teach more, as well as give us more understanding in our own walk. 

I pray that every person reading this will accept their position in ministry.  We are ministers to our spouses, children, friends, family, loved ones, acquaintances, any and all we have contact with.  I invite you to pray with me and read the scriptures below:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank You for every position I hold; every hat I wear.  I thank You for entrusting people to me no matter how large or small a role they play in my life.  I bless You for calling me to Yourself and teaching me to be a light to those who have any sort of encounter with me.  I confess to You that I have not been disciplined in my role as a minister to the young and to the lost.  I pray that You will forgive me for my double-mindedness.  Help me to keep Your praise on my lips.  Teach me to pray before I speak, to acknowledge You in all my ways, ALL my ways Father, that You may direct my paths. 

Help me to accept Your grace and gracefully step into my role as minister to Your people. 

I thank You for Your Word.  I thank You for those always willing to learn and walk with me as I learn.  These things I pray in Jesus' precious name,

Amen

Scriptures to Review

Deuteronomy 11:19~And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Psalm 78:4-7~

4 Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD,
         And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.        
 5 For He established a testimony in Jacob,
         And appointed a law in Israel,
         Which He commanded our fathers,
         That they should make them known to their children;
 6 That the generation to come might know them,
         The children who would be born,
         That they may arise and declare them to their children,
 7 That they may set their hope in God,
         And not forget the works of God,
         But keep His commandments;

Philippians 3:14~ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 18:21~ Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
      And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 31:26-28~

28 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
      And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

27 She watches over the ways of her household,
      And does not eat the bread of idleness.
       28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
      Her husband also, and he praises her: