“...from the prophets of Jerusalem 
ungodliness has spread throughout the land.” 
Jeremiah 23:15  NIV

All my John Maxwell training is going to be put to the test in three and a half weeks when I’ll be moderating a panel on Leadership at the Women’s Connection District Retreat in Grimsby, Ontario. {If you’re going, make sure to stop by my table and say hello!}

I have some amazing ladies on the panel who hold various organizational leadership roles in business, government positions, church leadership, and home management. The goal is to elevate the confidence of women in leadership positions and practically help improve their skills, enabling them to walk further and faster into the destiny God has for their lives.

As we’ve been preparing for the panel, I can’t help but look back and rate my skillfulness as a leader. Lots of passes, and plenty of fails.  My thoughts went back to my first leadership position as a big sister. 🙂

Sometimes, my little sister, Lori would follow me around playing ‘Copycat’.  Remember that annoying childhood game where people followed you around; often one-step behind you, repeating every word you said, copying move you made? Lori used to drive me crazy doing this!  Thankfully, we’ve grown up and now have a great relationship! {Don’t we look cute together now 🙂 }  As a “big sister” I hope I’ve given Lori more good examples to follow than bad ones!  No matter how small your leadership role may seem, it will have a huge impact because

Leadership Leads…Good or Bad!

RECOGNIZING YOUR REACH

Sometimes we minimize the effect our leadership has in the home, school, court, field, rink, church or place of employment.  Whenever God has elevated you to a place of leadership, people are going to follow in your footsteps—It’s a scary thing!

A friend once said to me,

“I was forced to go to church and I won’t put my kids through that.
I don’t want them to be forced to live what I believe but to be able to choose for themselves.”

Since she never took her kids to church, they simply followed her lead and have seldom gone to church because they were never given another option to choose from.  Failure to give guidance is, in fact, leading, since it causes people to blindly follow your example and not know why.

[tweetthis]You’re leading, even when you try not to lead. #leadership [/tweetthis]

Our leadership in life is followed,
much more than we recognize.

Today’s verse comes from the book of Jeremiah.  In his time, many of the prophets weren’t leading well. They weren’t proclaiming God’s word to the people, but instead speaking what they knew the people wanted to hear, so they would keep following them… following them down the wrong path.

These false prophets were sharing a watered-down message with false hopes that led the people to be disappointed in God; causing them to turn away from Him. Jeremiah had to swim against the tide of his time as their poisonous message,

“spread throughout the land”.

Leadership was difficult for Jeremiah, but he knew his responsibility was to clear the path for others, so they could follow the right way; because

[tweetthis]Leadership Leads… Good or Bad #leadership[/tweetthis]

So, what’s going to spread in the future as people follow you?

Prayer

Father… I’m overwhelmed when I recognize that you have given me such influence in my world.  Help me to be wise with my words and actions so that my life impacts others to know and love you more! May others follow your plans for their lives as they see me chasing after the destiny you’ve set before me. In Jesus name…Amen

I WILL RISE
Women’s Connection Conference

https://womensconnection.ca/events/conference

If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll join us
Don’t forget to sign up for the Leadership Panel}.

1. Ephesians 1:5
2. Hebrews 13:7
3. James 3:1
4. 1 Timothy 4:12

If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.

#Dare2Share
Post in the Comment Section below and bolster the faith of someone else!

Other posts about my journey with John C. Maxwell, the JMTeam, or John’s Books:
John C. Maxwell And God Want You To Be A Talent-Plus Person
Mentored to Lead by John C. Maxwell

WHERE YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP MY BLOG WITH OR PLACES WHERE MY WRITING HAS BEEN FEATURED

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