Servant Leadership for Self

To gain insight, leaders need time; time to think, to meditate, to soak up the whole scene. Next, leaders need to learn from the right people. Insight is often “rubbed off” from one life to another. Finally, insight comes as we choose the right attitude — an open, teachable mind.

Charles R. Swindoll

One of the characteristics of servant leadership is foresight, the ability to forge a path to the desired destination. In the process of forging a path, we might forge several alternate paths…Jesus described it as counting the costs (Lk. 14:25-33). We consider the pros and cons, ups and downs, and anticipate any reroutes or detours. We play out the potential consequences of our actions, and then choose the best path for us.

But, do we?

This post is about being a servant leader to ourselves. I completed a three-year course of study that emphasized my becoming a servant leader. I studied how to hone foresight and other qualities to help me best serve as the leader in a team dynamic. I completed assessments, and sought feedback to judge myself as a servant leader. What I did not think to do at the time was serve myself as a servant leader — to apply the principles of servant leadership on myself, internally.

There is much to distract, and we have to keep going and overcome. There is also much to think about, too much even, so that when we sit down to clear our thoughts we can find no beginning point. But we have to. We have to spend time in thought and meditation to catalogue and discard thoughts. Heavy lifting and heavy living hinder our exercise of foresight.

I encourage us to lay aside the weight the hinders (Heb. 12:1). I implore us to check our personal plans and complete them. I beseech us to know our own hearts, our own minds, and think through the ideas brewing in our souls. What is possible? What is doable now? What is the will of God? What is short term or long term? What will happen if I do this now and that later, or that now and this later? What do I need to save? How should I prepare? Who can I call for counsel? Again, what is the will of God?

DeGraaf, Tilley, and Neal (2012) offer three steps to developing foresight in our approach to life. I know these will help us serve ourselves.

1. Understand the past by having a solid sense of your history.
2. Engage the future — Be informed and aware of the things that influence the path you’re forging.
3. Remove the “blinders” and develop creativity. Recognize and overcome conditioning and prior expectations.

This is to remind us of our personal missions and our obligations to the Father to fulfill our obedience. We cannot allow ourselves to stop too long perusing the buffet of distractions. No. Our lives are hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). Our position is in Christ, period. And we have to seek our answers there, and no where else.

Let’s lead our lives and give God glory in the processes. Amen? Yes, and amen.

---

Dr. Shaunta Scroggins is the founder of The Bereans’ Commentary.