Energy management is the new time management. And I’ve asked my friend, Tom Harper to share his insight on that crucial subject. He just released his latest book, Servant Leader Strong which is the result of his three-year search through the Bible for wisdom on how to achieve results through servant leadership. It is a how-to manual for any Christian leader in need of bold, biblical encouragement. I encourage you to pick up a copy.
“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Rom. 12:11). Spiritual zeal fuels #leadership.
As a leader, how do you build energy and maintain your daily drive? Several verses are instructive for filling our followers—and ourselves—with the motivation required to succeed in our work.
1. Be ready for bad stuff. The Israelite workers rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem were always ready for attacks.
“Those who carried materials did their work with one hand & held a weapon in the other” (Neh. 4:17). #determination
In the same way, we should temper our positive attitude with the possibility that something could come along and spoil it at any time. When we’re on the lookout for critics, naysayers, or setbacks, we’re not completely taken off guard when a shoe does in fact drop. And when things go smoothly, our battle readiness translates into overall leadership strength.
I recently received an attitude-spoiling email from a new business contact. We had only talked once and exchanged a few emails since our initial discussion. In his note, not only did he misinterpret something I’d said, but he accused me of lying and operating “in bad faith.”
After I fumed at my screen, I had to laugh at the irony. Apparently, the Lord wanted to use me as an object lesson!
2. Grow your roots. When we immerse ourselves in God’s Word, prayer, worship, and fellowship with other believers, our spiritual strength grows, increasing our joy and energy as a result.
“Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong” (Eph. 3:17, NLT).
3. Pay attention to your physical needs. Sometimes it’s as simple as eating, sleeping, exercising, or just refraining from regular work.
Worn out by #leadership? So was Elijah. “‘I’ve had enough, Lord,’ he said. . . . An angel said, ‘Get up & eat.’” (1 Kgs. 19:4–5). Good advice!
Jesus to his leaders: “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31).
4. Fulfill desires. You know what it’s like to reach a lofty goal. Can you help others experience the same rush of accomplishment?
“A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul” (Prov. 13:19).
5. Remember who your real boss is. Sometimes we need to look past our earthly superiors at the King who watches our every move. It is he who will ultimately judge our work. He will fulfill his purposes through what we do on earth. When we seek his guidance and his strength—and we’re willing to follow his lead—our zeal for the task at hand will be refreshed.
“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3:17). Daily #leadership reminder.
Excerpted from Servant Leader Strong: Uniting Biblical Wisdom and High-Performance Leadership, by Tom Harper (DeepWater Books, Dec. 2019). Foreword by Richard Blackaby. View the book trailer.
Tom Harper is CEO of Networld Media Group and publisher of BiblicalLeadership.com, a free online source of encouragement, tips and how-to for leaders seeking to apply biblical principles in their daily lives. Tom lives in Louisville, Ky. with his wife and three children. He is the author of the business fableThrough Colored Glasses: How Great Leaders Reveal Reality (DeepWater, 2018) and Leading from the Lions’ Den: Leadership Principles from Every Book of the Bible (B&H, 2010).
