We Need New Leadership!

For the bulk of my career I have been under poor leadership. This is particularly difficult b/c I, myself am a leader. I don’t really think of myself in that way but I know that is how the Lord sees me. When you yourself are a leader, you know the qualities a good leader has. You know they are informed about the path that is ahead, they have the strength and capability to not only get themselves along that path but help navigate their team to the intended destination. You know they care not just for themselves, but even more so for their team. When someone is in a leadership position who does not have these attributes, the team they are called to lead are left vulnerable, confused and do not make it to the intended destination. Christ put it this way, when a non-leader is leading, the sheep are vulnerable to the attacks from the wolf. They are easy prey. Thankfully, Christ is a great leader. He laid down His life for His sheep. He put us before Himself.

I’ve learned a lot from working under poor leadership. I’ve learned how to be humble and lowly. I’ve learned how to endure in spite of the less than ideal working environments. I’ve learned how to extend grace and forgiveness when injustice prevails.

And I’m still learning.

Every day I’m learning. Until maybe one day I will arrive in a place where I will have learned what I was supposed to learn and receive the promotion that was promised to me. The promotion I worked very hard for.

I know I’m an intercessor and the thing about God is that He just does not give up on people. So He calls me to intercede for poor leadership even when they do not deserve it. Even when they make it difficult to pray for them, over and over again b/c they are in a cycle of death and do not realize it. My friend tells me today, “we need new leadership” and I agree. And my heart hurts at her pain and the injustice of it all. And I ask the Lord, “Do You see us? Do you care? Why don’t You move?” I don’t ask these questions b/c I doubt His presence. I ask b/c it hurts. And I know He understands that. Christ has called us to submit to the authorities that are in place in our lives. I get that. But there comes a time when authority needs to be replaced b/c even in this fallen world, there is a remnant that can pray for God’s will to be done. Either leaders need to be transformed or they need to be replaced. Christ is rooting for the transformation. He never gives up on people. And He is teaching me that attribute about Himself as I am all about getting the job done. If people don’t want to get in line then lets keep it moving.

So Im learning. And standing in the gap. And interceding that His will be done. Whether by transformation or replacement. Because when all is said and done, we need new leadership to get to where we are going.

John 10:1-15 (AMP)
I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way (elsewhere, from some other quarter) is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. The watchman opens the door for this man, and the sheep listen to his voice and heed it; and he calls his own sheep by name and brings (leads) them out. When he has brought his own sheep outside, he walks on before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will never [on any account] follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call. Jesus used this parable (illustration) with them, but they did not understand what He was talking about. So Jesus said again, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that I Myself am the Door for the sheep. All others who came [as such] before Me are thieves and robbers, but the [true] sheep did not listen to and obey them. I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture. The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep. But the hired servant (he who merely serves for wages) who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away. And the wolf chases and snatches them and scatters [the flock]. Now the hireling flees because he merely serves for wages and is not himself concerned about the sheep [cares nothing for them]. I am the Good Shepherd; and I know and recognize My own, and My own know and recognize Me—Even as [truly as] the Father knows Me and I also know the Father—and I am giving My [very own] life and laying it down on behalf of the sheep.

SHALOM