Friday, January 21, 2011

Visionary Leadership

Visionary leadership is needed in the kingdom of God in order to fulfill the outline that God that has for reaching the world. Individuals who live in obedience to His direction can implement God's vision and plan for individuals, churches, communities as well as the world. Leadership with insight is not about mighty exploits of human creativity that end in successful praise of the followers. Rather, a Christian leader with a spiritual goal is one who receives directions from God then launches out into the deep by believing that "faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it!" (1 Thessalonians 5:24) Click here for an excellent resource for any leader.

The spiritual concept of visionary leadership can sometimes collide with the human understanding of leadership plus creativity. The natural abilities or talents of many people qualify them to be born leaders who can motivate, lead as well as succeed at many tasks. The creativity as well as common sense that many people posses equips them with the innate abilities of a visionary leader. Many talented people can set a goal, implement a plan, pursue the end result then reach the finish line before anyone else. However, natural abilities are not what leadership with insight is all about in relationship to His intention for many situations.

The Word of God states that God uses the "weak things of the world to confound the mighty," implying that only God Himself can work His design through yielded human vessels. That is not to say that preparation, talent, skills along with abilities are not important in order to fulfill the design or task that God has initiated for any leader. When a leader understands however, that it's "not by might nor by power but by my Word, saith the Lord", then God's intention will succeed as He does the work through any leader. Obedience to God's will along with belief in God's Word is critical in in order to accomplish God's intentions for whatever purpose He has designed.

Leadership with insight is the skillful implementation of a plan to reach the goal that includes other people who are motivated to become involved. Most leaders who have a plan for the success of a particular task in life expend tireless energy in the pursuit of the goal and will not give up until it's accomplished. This type of insightful leadership is energized by faith in God's call, then is guided by direct willing response to Him. Learn more about God, as well as His plan for your life, take our Bible Quiz.

Seeing things God's way is an earmark of a true leader, who makes sure that pursuit of the goal is not dampened by doubters or skeptics. The Bible says that "where there is no vision, the people perish" which provides great emphasis on the need for everyone to be open to whatever God's plan is for our lives as the plan affects others. Many times a goal is squelched by those who insist on viewing circumstances, others or God with limited understanding along with openness. Visionary leadership from anyone requires stepping out by faith into the unfamiliar and many times, against all odds.

Gideon was a fine example of insightful leadership when he defeated his enemies with just a handful of scared soldiers who relied on God's direction. Gideon's obedience to God's vision and plan for the future was activated by a strong belief when he took a little band of 500 then rallied them to defeat thousands of soldiers who were humanly more powerful than Gideon's army. The biblical story paints the picture of a man who is skilled at battle as well as a respected leader of men. Facing all odds against a task he was called upon to perform as part of God's vision and plan for Israel, Gideon displayed unshaken compliance, along with great confidence in the Lord. It was not a path that Gideon would have chosen, yet he obeyed through faith and was the victor.

God's vision and plan for that time was accomplished while Gideon's visionary leadership has gone down in history. All Christians are called upon to implement God's intentions for their lives through belief along with compliance to the Word of God. Some people are called upon to fulfill some goal through faith that will affect many people around the world. Others are called upon to follow insightful leadership as part of God's plan for the church and the world. No matter your calling or intention, whether is modest or spectacular, will only be truly successful if performed through belief along with obedience to God's will. "For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)

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