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I hear it all the time… If you want good workers, you have to have great leadership.
So, what makes a great leader? To me, it’s someone who’s in the trenches of the battle with you. They aren’t at the back commanding you to march forward, but instead, they are leading the charge. A leader is someone that inspires and encourages unity. They recognize workers for their accomplishments and utilize their strengths. A leader makes tough decisions that align with the mission, not always what’s popular among the people. They listen and make changes accordingly, as needed.
But who leads them? Every great leader has a mentor, a hero, someone that guides them to choose integrity over gain, compassion over indifference, and a servant’s heart over pride.
In an article in Forbes magazine, Carol Sankar asked a question to the top 21 most successful women in business, “What do you believe contributed to your success?” Without hesitation or inference, every respondent said it was the investment of their connection with great mentors.
I have mentors in my work life and in my personal. And each one of them has someone that they look to as well. They, too, have someone that guides them and encourages them.
“And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying, Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd. And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.” (Numbers 27:15-19)
As the time approaches for the children to conquer the promised land, God reminds Moses that he will not be allowed to enter because of his disobedience. Moses understands his time is short and desires to appoint a new leader over the people of Israel.
Joshua, a proven leader already, is selected by God himself to lead His people. So how does Joshua become such a great leader? His mentors.
Moses and Aaron led before him. He watched them carefully, the good decisions and the bad. He learned from them. His good friend, Caleb, was also a voice of reason and encourager. Together, these two men alone obeyed God when the crowd didn’t. And ultimately, as we will see in the book of Joshua, God is his leader.
“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:5-8)
How about you? Who is leading your decisions? Where do you turn when you are in need of advice and help? Who is your mentor?
“But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.” (Psalm 5:7-8)
Lead me Lord, unto the path of righteousness.
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