In this Leader Fluent Podcast Series, I’m sharing a snippet from each chapter of my book, Insanely Practical Leadership: 12 No-Nonsense Keys to Master the Art of Leading Yourself and Others. The book addresses a host of insanely practical skills, and it provides you and your team with the tools to apply the insights to your life. Enjoy this taste of what’s in the book, and learn more about Insanely Practical Leadership and the bonus content that goes with the book HERE.

Leadership is immensely challenging. In fact, as I coach leaders, I hear stories of bold visions, heart-breaking pain, board members gone rogue, difficult leadership transitions, and situations with intense spiritual warfare.

The truth is, there is no shortage of stress and struggle in leadership. But as the external pressures of leadership increase, we need a more powerful presence within us. That’s why the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 3:16, “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.”

So, where do we start? Well, to become a spiritually grounded leader, we need four spiritual keys.

1. Spiritual Priority

Author Greg Mckeown made an interesting observation about the word priority. McKeown notes that when the word priority came into the English language in the 1400s, it was originally a singular word that meant “the prior or very first thing.”

It remained a “singular” word for the next 500 years, until the 1900s when we made the term plural: priorities. Well, McKeown poses a powerful question about the word “priorities.” He said, can there be multiple very first things?

Unfortunately, many people think there can be, but Jesus makes it clear only one thing can be first. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” This is the starting place to become a spiritually grounded leader. Seeking God must be our very first thing.

2. Spiritual Practices

Author Richard Foster once said, “We do indeed engage in practices—disciplines, if you will—but remember these practices earn us nothing in the economy of God. Nothing. Their only purpose is to place us before God. That is all…God then steps into our actions and, over time and experience, produces in us the formation of heart and mind and soul for which we long.”

Notice, the spiritual practices don’t change us—God does. The practices are merely the way we place ourselves before God so He can do His transforming work in us. So, whether it’s prayer, Bible study, worship, fasting, serving, generosity, or community, what are the spiritual practices you need to develop to bring you before God so He can transform you in His presence?

3. Spiritual Pace

After performing a miracle where He fed 5,000 people, Jesus told His disciples to get into a boat and cross the lake. Then, Jesus went up into the hills to pray by himself. And the Bible tells us, “Night fell while he was there alone.”

But the disciples didn’t immediately get in the boat and cross the lake. Instead, John 6:16 says, “That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to the shore to wait for him.” And eventually, darkness fell but Jesus still hadn’t come back.

That passage sounds simple enough, but when I read it, I’m convicted with this thought: Has anyone ever had to wait on me to finish praying?

You see, Jesus modeled the unrushed way by not rushing His time with the Father. Despite the demands Jesus faced, His leadership pace didn’t exceed His spiritual pace. I know, unrushed time with God sounds impossible, especially when speed is the name of the game for so many leaders. But if we’re not careful, we’ll begin measuring intimacy with God by our efficiency with God.

Efficiency sounds like a good leadership tactic, but intimacy is the fuel to help you finish well. You can’t microwave maturity. And when we combine spiritual practices with a healthy spiritual pace, the transformation is deep.

4. Spiritual Perspective

Leadership expert, Dr. J. Robert Clinton once said, “When a leader has a lifelong developmental perspective, that leader expects God to shape him over a lifetime. The leader views the things that happen to him as God’s sovereign way of developing him. That leader recognizes that all of life, while being vital and true for the moment, is also used to prepare him for all of the rest of life.”

To lead for a lifetime, you need a lifetime developmental perspective. You need to see pain, tests, and trials as the tools God uses to form you, grow you, and stretch you as a leader. I’m not suggesting God is the originator of all our hardships, but God doesn’t waste them either. The question is, will you?

Without a healthy spiritual perspective, you risk becoming angry, bitter, and resentful at the leadership pain God wants to redeem to shape you into a Christ-centered leader.

In fact, that may very well be the difference-maker in your leadership. Dr. Clinton said it like this: “The difference between leaders and followers is perspective. The difference between leaders and effective leaders is better perspective.” Perspective makes the difference.

So, to become a spiritually grounded leader, you need four things: spiritual priority, spiritual practices, spiritual pace, and spiritual perspective. Priority makes your spiritual growth important. Practices make your spiritual growth evident. Pace makes your spiritual growth vibrant. And perspective makes your spiritual growth resilient. This is the pathway to become a spiritually grounded leader.

LEARN MORE ABOUT INSANELY PRACTICAL LEADERSHIP:

The teaching in this podcast series comes from my book, Insanely Practical Leadership: 12 No-Nonsense Keys to Master the Art of Leading Yourself and Others. Get your copy of the book, masterclass, and study guide to maximize your leadership and to invest in the growth of your team. You can learn more about Insanely Practical Leadership and the bonus content that goes with the book HERE.