Prepare for Departure

Being a leader is noble and rewarding. It does however carry with it some challenges. One of which is preparing for your departure from the role. It is common for leaders to work right from their installation through their exit from the organization. There are a lot of factors that drive that commonality, but the real thing is that the leaders never prepare for when they are gone from the organization.

It is important, dare I say paramount for the leader to build strength in the organization that is ready to take over and continue the work of that organization when the time comes. There should always be someone on deck to lead with confidence and skill to do so.

The same is said for the spiritual leader. The role of the spiritual leader is to guide people to God’s agenda. Give them the tools that will prompt them to seek the LORD in all things, whether inside or outside the organization. Those that are being prepared should know of and have those influences that come from God, His authentication, have encounters with Him, character/integrity, and preparation. They should be seeking the spiritual maturity that demonstrates continued growth and learning and reliance on God for all. And they should work to bring glory to God always.

I know that I have failed in these areas in the past and may only be in the middle of preparing my family’s successor, but I am working on it daily by doing just what I am doing here. I am in God’s Word, learning and growing in to the man He has for me to be. I am demonstrating to my boys what it means to be the leader of the household and can only do more of the same. At some point I will no longer be here, but my family that comes after me will be prepared to continue. I am preparing for my departure.

What is your view of what comes after you leave? Are you not concerned as you will be gone? What if you were to take the approach that it is your role to ensure that the organization continues to seek the will of the LORD even after you are gone?

Do the Work and Prepare for the Fight

A fight for and around our faith is coming, that we can be certain, yet we have work to do in the name of the LORD. I have to be prepared for that fight and ensure that I continue the work. The work is the important part as relates to my existence here in this world. I was added here to do the work of the LORD, and when we even look back at creation, the man was created to have dominion and do the work of the LORD.

The fight is coming and yet I have to focus on the work of the LORD. I have to know that the LORD will protect us and fight for us, yet I am to be prepared for the fight for when I am called into action. I have to know that I have help in this world through my fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ, yet they will not be right beside me all the time. I and they are to prepare for the fight and know that the LORD is there with us to fight on our behalf so that we are able to continue the work to bring glory to him.

“¹⁹And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, ‘The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. ²⁰In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.’” – Nehemiah 4:19-20 (ESV)

I see here that the work of the LORD must continue, yet we are widespread in our work. We are not always working right next to others. We are not going to have in the immediate proximity, brothers and sisters in Christ who are at the ready to defend us. We are protected by the LORD. We are doing His work and He is right there with us as we work. Protecting us so that the work can and will be completed. And the alarm will sound to alert our brothers and sisters to come and defend us. They will come to our fight for our fight is their fight for the glory of the LORD.

I am blessed to have, at the ready, brothers and sisters in Christ to alert and call for when needed. Yet even with them at the ready, I still have the work of the LORD to do. I have faith that the LORD will protect me and give me that which is needed to complete His work. I must know that the fight is coming and prepare for it, yet focus on the work of the LORD with the comfort of knowing that He is fighting for me and that I have brothers and sisters in Christ ready to step in when called.

What is your thoughts on doing the work of Christ? Are you focused on the work or worried about the fight that is coming? What if you know it is coming realize that the LORD is fighting for you and that your brothers and sisters in Christ are at the ready to come when called so that you are able to complete the work of the LORD?

Listen Now and Prepare

I am looked at sometimes as to rigid in my approach. I am one of those people that has to have a plan to proceed. I believe that without planning, there is a good chance that things will be missed and chaos can and will ensue. This morning I am reading in God’s Word from Genesis and the passage lead me to find that approach is not as rigid and negative as one might think.

“²⁹There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, ³⁰but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, ³¹and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe.” “³⁴Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. ³⁵And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. ³⁶That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.” – Genesis 41:29-31 & 34-36 (ESV)

I know that the above passage is a long one. It does however point out the importance of planning. Here we find that there would be times of plenty and then times of scarcity. The plan is to store up during the time of plenty to be able to make it through the times of scarcity. Planning would allow for future survival.

Now, I am not against those who are not like me in the area of having a plan. In fact, my wife Lori is one of those who lives in the moment and she is a great person and her approach makes a difference in the lives of others. What I will say is that there is a time and place for each approach.

In this same passage of God’s Word, Joseph is interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh. In the dream Joseph interprets that the famine will follow the time of plenty, and it will completely blot out the memory of the plenty as it will be so great. The people will live in the moment of plenty and then in the moment of famine. The living in the moment of plenty is safe and secure, and when the safety and security are gone in the moment of famine, the feelings are fear and despair. This fear and despair will take over fully and the people will forget about all the times of plenty they had just come from.

We have to listen now and prepare. In the passage, we find that Pharaoh listened to Joseph and his interpretation of the dreams. The dreams were a message from God as to what He was about to do.

“²⁵Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, ‘The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.’” “³²And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.” – Genesis 41:25 (ESV)

Joseph led with the fact that God revealed His plan. In the passage, it was mentioned twice in the 36 verses, and is largely missed as a part of the passage. God revealed His plan and it was up to Pharaoh to listen and take action. Pharaoh should listen and plan, and he did.

I have to remember to listen to the LORD and plan what is next. It is great to be able to live in the moment and forget about all that is around us in the interest of not allowing things to bother or get to us. But, we also have to plan for those times when things may not be great as they are in this moment. I have to see where I am, and prepare for where the LORD would have me going. I have to listen to God’s plan and take action, knowing that if He indicates it will be happening, it will happen.

What is your approach to planning? Is it something that is left for others? What if you were to listen to what is and or will happen and prepared?