VISIONARY

What Does Hope Filled Leadership Look Like?

Are you believing God can do immeasurably more than you can imagine? One way to test your vision is to ask yourself the question ‘can I accomplish this on my own?’ If you can, you are probably not dreaming big enough. I n 1 Chronicles 28 we see that David had it in his heart to build a Temple for the Lord - a permanent resting place for the Ark of the Covenant. Yet because he was a man of war God told David he was not the one chosen to build the temple. David could have given up on the dream recognizing that he couldn’t accomplish it himself but instead he set a great example of leadership for us to follow. David had a dream he knew was greater than he could accomplish so he laid the groundwork and prepared the way for the next generation to complete the vision. David and Solomon accomplished something together that stood for generations to come. Our prayer is that you would embrace a vision greater than you can accomplish in your own lifetime or ability. And may you prepare today for your dreams to impact generations to come. Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the works for the service of the house of the Lord is finished. 1 Chronicles 28:20 (NASB2020)

If you were given the choice between obtaining all of the promises and blessings of God for your life and ministry, or an encounter with God’s face, what would you choose? In Exodus 33:3 God tells Moses He will give the people of Israel the Promised Land, but His Presence will not go with them because of their idolatry and rebellion. Moses is given a choice between obtaining the promises of God without His Presence, or refusing to go another step forward without His “Face”. Moses didn’t want the promises of God without the Presence of God and he cried out in desperation to behold God in all His glory. In immediate response God declares, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest… I will make all my goodness pass before you and I will call out my Name YAHWEH” (Exodus 33:14,19). And then glory came down. There, hidden in the cleft of the rock the Lord passed by Moses in all His glory. Moses didn’t have to plead, or strive for God’s Presence. He simply placed the pursuit of God’s Face above all else. In this season we are being asked the same question - what do we want most? We cannot strive for or manipulate God to manifest His glory in our midst. However, God is eager to respond with the lavish outpouring of His Presence to a people whose hearts are wholly His. God comes where He is wanted. Will we choose His Face above any of the gifts from His hand? May we be a people who put the pursuit of His Presence above all else. May beholding His Glory be the clarion cry of our lives and may we be captivated by the glory and goodness of God as He comes in a way we have never experienced before! Lord, we beseech Thee, “Show us Your Glory!” “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Philippians 3:7 (NLT) One Minute Watch with Ben Armstrong, Bethel Pastor

Abiding

Feedback in Leadership Leadership Minute with Chris Cruz “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always be where you’ve always been.” - T.D.Jakes Are you growing as a leader? How do you encourage greater growth in your own leadership and your team? One of the most powerful tools of growth in leadership is through establishing a culture of feedback. Feedback is an essential component of any successful ministry or workplace. It creates an opportunity for continuous learning. The more comfortable and encouraged everyone feels with expressing feedback, the more it empowers each team member in their development. Fostering a positive feedback culture requires consistency, initiative, time, and the right mindset. As leaders, we need to model a safe space for communication, continually asking ourselves and those around us where we are doing well and how we can improve. As we do this, those around us will see feedback as an opportunity for learning and improvement rather than criticism. Out of feedback will come innovation, solutions, and exponential growth. So leader, may you and your teams thrive and grow as you value feedback and go from glory to glory!

Growing in Hope-Driven Leadership Leadership Minute with Bill Johnson As a follower of Jesus, you have access to limitless hope. Hope gives you the supernatural ability to rise above any circumstance with a heavenly perspective, even when it looks like all odds are against you. Additionally, you have the authority to offer others a life of hope. A heart of hope. The world is attracted to the hope that is in you. People are looking for someone overflowing with hope to lead them. If you are lacking hope right now, turn your gaze to Jesus and ask Him to show you His promises for your life. There is nothing too broken or destitute that God does not have a solution for. And if you feel full of hope right now, allow that to overflow from your life onto others! Proclaim and infuse hope into the circumstances of those around you. Start a spark and trust that God will fan that flame in their life.

Are you moving too fast in your leadership to recognize God's Presence? With Chris Cruz, Bethel Young Adults Pastor