Learning to Grow as a Leader
Learning to Grow as a Leader
One important lesson that I have learned, is to not live my life full of regrets or sorrow.
I have learned how to take hurt and pain as life experiences that I must encounter to continue to learn and grow. Each encounter I have with anything distasteful I take as a part of my training and teaching that will be needful to survive the many oppositions that comes with living a life that exemplifies the character of Christ.
Each act of unkindness, every spoken word that is spoken to inflict hurt, every act that comes to bring pain, causes me to draw closer to the image of Christ and breaks off all the negative and unrighteous characteristic of sin and carnally that keeps the light of Jesus from shining from my life.
I have learned, not to let the actions of others to influence me from not acting in the godly character that has taken God years to develop in me. There are some situations that I have no need to address, because the value of the act is not worthy of my attention.
It’s not worth me losing all I have gain through the suffering I have gone through, to address lies, or attacks many times on my character, or name.
I always say, those who know me or walk in the Spirit, won’t receive an accusation against me, because they know my character. Those who take a lie and run with it, are either carnal, fleshly and messy, or just plain evil anyhow, and want something to talk about.
Many times I make others upset with me, because I don’t react the way they think I should. Every situation I encounter, has to be gauged by the Spirit of God. My only responsibility at that time is to be obedient to God; listen to His instructions; concerning the matter; and allow Him to direct me in handling any problem that rises up in my life.
It took God, truly working on my personality, my attitude, my character, to get to the place now where I can continue to feed the sheep, with their imperfections, issues, and stubborn wills.
Learning how to love people where they are at, until they become mature enough to overcome their issues, problems, and fleshly characters, is a lesson every one in leadership must learn.
If we are looking for perfect people and only want to deal with those that got it together, then you have the wrong mindset to be working for The Lord. Jesus ministers to those who were imperfect, full of flaws, had need of character adjustments, walked in questionable behavior, but He dealt with them and hung around them, to be an example in the midst of them.
He sought out the lost those that needed a Savior those that needed salvation those that needed character building. Since the servant is not greater than the master, we need to be seeking those who need a physician, not those that are already well.
Check yourself today. Perhaps you have dismissed rejected or disconnected from someone that was only suppose to learn from you, and not become a friend to you. I did. Now greater doors of ministry have opened, greater opportunities to witness to the lost have come, and I have peace in my spirit, because I am completing the assignments that were assigned to my hands and the heavens have open for God to pour out more of Him into my life.
Walking in love is the greatest anointing that could ever come forth in your life!
The Arts of Silence and Delay
There are times I have to hold my own mouth shut.
Sometimes people can say, or do something, that makes you want to go in on them real hard.
I will never forget that someone said something to me, and I was getting ready to rebuke them very harshly when The Lord spoke to me and said, though you will be justified in what you’re going to say, if you release the words right now in the tone and manner that you are feeling, they will have a hard time recovering from them.
He said let the anger die in the situation, and then come back with the mixture of grace with your words and they will receive your words of correction, because they will feel the love in the rebuke.
I have had to remember these words a few times in the last month.
Maturity is knowing how to maintain your character and integrity in wrongful situations!
Think before you act think before you speak!
~ Apostle Barbara R. Thomas
Dear Barbara,
Thank you for posting this very timely message. It has helped me tremendously.
All burdens have lifted after reading your message, and I can feel God’s peace again.
It’s wonderful.
With grateful thanks
Jenny
This was Exactly what I needed to hear! I am constantly checking for new posts every 5 minutes, because as all of the other apostles and prophets have been communicating, I too am on the brink of the biggest breakthrough of my life after years of suffering and training and am in constant need of focus and encouragement, as the end always seems to be the hardest part. Due to the constant and public betrayal of family members, my most frequent prayer has been for the lord to create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit in me. My love walk has increased drastically, (thanks be to God) however because of the increase and intensity of the tests of faith and love goes, I have been a little afraid of having to endure anything more at this time because the pressure has physically taken a toll on my body and I feel that after years of turning the other cheek and surviving the lies and hurt, that in any moment I could make a mistake..I understand my calling and purpose in the kingdom of God, and am willing to do anything to keep the enemy from stealing from me again or tempting me to get out of order to cause any more delay in my life.. Please remember me in your prayers and thank you for sharing..this helped alot