Back in August I attended the Global Leadership Summit. It’s my favorite conference to attend. Not only do I glean invaluable tips on how to win an audience and communicate effectively, God always speaks to me in a big way. I’m not sure why it’s God’s chosen way of communicating next steps with me, but I’m always interested to see what God has for me each year.
This year it was Craig Groeschel’s talk “Expanding Your Leadership Capacity” that got me. His talk was based on Ephesians 3:20-21.
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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
His main idea was that there is so much MORE God can do with us. He shared 5 things that will expand your capacity as a leader and asked us to pick one that we wanted to get just 5% better at this year.
- Build your confidence
- Expand your connections
- Improve your competence
- Strengthen your character
- Increase your commitment
Lack of confidence, connections, competence, character or commitment will keep you from the MORE God wants to do with you.
I knew mine was character. I hated admitting my character was the lid on my leadership, but God wasn’t letting me escape that idea. So I stuck with it. Owned it. It probably wouldn’t be great character to be dishonest about my character issue.
Over and over I see a choice. Spend time with God or watch TV. Wake up on time or stay up late. Pray or listen to music. Grab an apple or some ice cream. Keep working or…close my laptop, disappoint people, and turn down opportunities in order to rest. Time after time, I choose the less good thing, justifying that it’s not sin. But to know the right thing to do and choose the less good thing—that’s a character flaw.
Ever since I got very sick in January, God’s been going after this one with me. Put to death the cravings of the flesh. Fix these issues. Refuse to let them be the lid on your leadership. The block to your calling.
But here’s the kick—I’m not supposed to go on kicks. I love kicks. 30 days of no sugar, 2 weeks of Jillian Michaels, 60 days of no music, one summer of reading daily. I love projects for simple reasons—kicks end. Lifestyles continue. Projects can be achieved. Obedience is always in progress.
But God’s asking me to live a different kind of life, one where my needs are met in him. My cravings, my fears, even my boredom is turned over to him. I’m to rejoice in each good decision made. I’m to choose the right thing because it was right right then.
So this is my C that I’m working on this year: the character flaw that enables me to consistently know what is right and choose what is less good.
I’m so not looking forward to this journey. But I believe in a high calling on my life and refuse to let my character keep me back from it.
Here’s to 5% better next August.
Do you know the high calling on your life?
Which of Craig’s C’s do you commit to improve on?
What will 5% better look like?
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