Leadership Promises for Every Day: A Daily Devotional

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© 2003 by Maxwell Motivation, Inc.

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GOD HAS PROMISED HIS GUIDANCE:

"I will lead them in paths

they have not known.

I will make darkness light before them,

and crooked places straight.

These things I will do for them,

and not forsake them."

ISAIAH 42 : 16

May you follow Him as you lead.

For the LORD gives wisdom;

from His mouth come

knowledge and understanding; . . .

He guards the paths of justice,

and preserves the way of His saints.

Then you will understand righteousness

and justice, equity and every good path.

— PROVERBS 2 : 6 , 8 – 9

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION

Anyone can follow a path, but only a leader can blaze one.

That’s often not easy. If you’re a leader, a lot of people depend on you:

Family and friends need leaders

who model purpose-driven lives.

Children need leaders who help

them reach their potential.

Churches need leaders who chart

the course and equip the saints.

Businesses need leaders who build great

places to work while making a profit.

Communities need leaders who

create a better place to live.

As others depend on you, upon whom can you depend? The answer is God, the Ultimate Leader!

Leadership is not for the faint of heart, but it’s encouraging to know that you’re not in it alone. This daily devotional is designed to connect you to God, provide you with daily leadership thoughts to help you grow, and help you stay focused on leadership issues as you approach the challenges of the day.

If you take a few minutes every day to make sure you are following the Ultimate Leader and learning His leadership lessons, then you will undoubtedly blaze a path that takes you—and your people—where only God can lead.

May God bless you on the journey. May you live in His wisdom. May He preserve your way.

Leadership

PROMISES FOR EVERY DAY

JANUARY

The call to leadership is a

consistent pattern in the Bible.

JANUARY 1

INVITATION TO LEAD

Then God said, "Let us make man

in our image, in our likeness, and let them

rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air,

over the livestock, over all the earth . . ."

GENESIS 1 : 26 (NIV)

God is the Ultimate Leader, and He calls every believer to lead others. God could have arranged His creation in any number of ways, but He chose to create human beings who possess spirits and the capacity to relate to Him and follow Him, yet who are not forced to do so.

When mankind fell into sin, God could have executed a plan of redemption that did not include sinful people, but He has called us to participate and to lead others as we follow Him. God made that clear from the beginning when He stated, have dominion (Genesis 1 : 28).

The call to leadership is a consistent pattern in the Bible. When God decided to raise up a nation of His own, He didn’t call upon the masses. He called out one leader— Abraham. When He wanted to deliver His people out of Egypt, He didn’t guide them as a group. He raised up a leader to do it—Moses. When it came time for the people to cross into the Promised Land, they followed one man—Joshua.

Every time God desired to do something great, He called a leader to step forward. Today He still calls leaders to step forward for every work—both large and small.

The Maxwell Leadership Bible

JANUARY 2

GROW A LEADER—

GROW THE ORGANIZATION

So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people . . .

Many of those who heard the word believed; and

the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

ACTS 3 : 12 , 4 : 4

A company cannot grow without, until its leaders grow within. I often am amazed at the money, energy, and marketing that rganizations focus on areas that will not produce growth. Slick brochures and catchy slogans will never overcome incompetent leadership.

In 1981 I became senior pastor of Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego, California, which had averaged 1,000 in attendance from 1969–1981. It was obviously on a plateau. When I called my first staff meeting, I gave a lecture with the thesis, Leaders determine the level of an organization. I drew a line across a marker board and wrote the number 1,000. I shared that although I knew the staff could lead 1,000 people effectively, I did not know whether they could lead 2,000 people. When the leaders changed positively, I knew the growth would become automatic. Now, I had to help them change themselves.

The strength of any organization is a direct result of the strength of its leaders.

Weak leaders = weak organizations.

Strong leaders = strong organizations.

Everything rises and falls on leadership.

Developing the Leaders Around You

JANUARY 3

IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS

And everyone who was in distress, everyone

who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented

gathered to [David]. So he became captain

over them. And there were about four

hundred men with him.

1 SAMUEL 22 : 2

The men who David attracted while he fled from Saul eventually became like him. Some even killed giants, as he did—showing that what you are is what you reproduce. Observe what David teaches us about his leadership:

1. David attracted men even without pursuing them.

2. David drew deep loyalty from them without ever trying to get it.

3. David transformed these men without disenchanting them over their initial state.

4. David fought alongside these men and turned them into winners.

Consider the astounding exploits of some of these men. Second Samuel 23 tells us that Adino slew 800 men with a spear in one battle (v. 8); Eleazar struck down the enemy until his hand clung to his sword (vv. 9,10); Shammah defended a plot of ground against an enemy army (vv. 11, 12). David attracted men like him—souls in distress. He also reproduced men like him—warriors and conquerors.

The Maxwell Leadership Bible

JANUARY 4

DON’T TAKE YOURSELF

TOO SERIOUSLY

A merry heart does good, like medicine.

PROVERBS 17 : 22

I work with a lot of leaders. And one thing I’ve found is that many times they take themselves much too seriously. Of course, they’re not alone. I meet people in every walk of life who have too much doom and gloom in their attitudes. They simply need to lighten up. No matter how serious your work is, that’s no reason to take yourself seriously.

If any person had a reason to take his job and himself seriously, it would be a president of the United States. Yet it’s possible for even people holding that position to maintain their sense of humor and keep their egos in check. For example, when Calvin Coolidge was asked if he was attending the Sesquicentennial Exposition in Philadelphia, the President answered, Yes.

Why are you going, Mr. President? a reporter asked.

As an exhibit, answered the rotund Coolidge.

If you tend to take yourself too seriously, give yourself and everyone else around you a break. Recognize that laughter breeds resilience. Laughing is the quickest way to get up and get going again when you’ve been knocked down.

Failing Forward

JANUARY 5

FIRE OF GOD

"Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?

Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"

He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly,

He who despises the gain of oppressions,

Who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes,

Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed,

And shuts his eyes from seeing evil: He will dwell on high;

His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks;

Bread will be given him, His water will be sure.

ISAIAH 33 : 14 – 16

Who can stand up under the purification process of God? Who can remain unchanged through the fire of God? That’s the question Isaiah asks and answers. He lays out a list of traits for the kind of people who can stand up in a crisis. Ponder his description:

Integrity: The leader’s life and words match.

Justice: The leader rejects dishonest gain.

Convictions: The leader’s values won’t allow him or her to accept bribes.

Positive focus: The leader refuses to dwell on destructive issues.

Pure: The leader disciplines his or her mind to remain clean and pure.

Secure: The leader is firm, stable in his identity and source of strength.

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JANUARY 6

THE HEART OF LEADERSHIP

So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing,

and wrapped a towel around His waist.

After that, He poured water into a basin and

began to wash His disciples’ feet.

JOHN 13 : 4 – 5 (NIV)

When you think of servanthood, what do you envision? Servanthood is not about position or skill. It’s about attitude. You undoubtedly have met people in service positions who have poor attitudes toward servanthood, and just as you can sense when a worker doesn’t want to help people, you can just as easily detect whether a leader has a servant’s heart. The truth is that the best leaders desire to serve others, not themselves.

True servant leaders . . .

• Put others ahead of their own agenda.

• Possess the confidence to serve.

• Initiate service to others.

• Are not position–conscious.

• Serve out of love.

Servant leadership is never motivated by manipulation or self–promotion. In the end, the extent of your influence depends on the depth of your concern for others. That’s why it’s so important for leaders to be willing to serve.

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader

JANUARY 7

BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU

GET YOUR COUNSEL

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the

ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in

the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of

the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,

that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also

shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

PSALM 1 : 1 – 3

The brilliant first psalm contrasts the righteous and the wicked. Leaders, take note because the difference between the two seems to be where they get their counsel! Observe how a foolish leader can be led astray by a corrupt inner circle:

1. The leader begins to browse for the wrong counsel.

2. The leader begins to listen to the wrong voices.

3. The leader joins the wrong inner circle.

A wise leader meditates on God’s Word day and night. Note the results of receiving counsel from the right inner circle:

1. Stability

2. Inward nourishment and refreshment

3. Fruitfulness and productivity

4. Strength and durability

5. Success

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JANUARY 8

THE BLAME GAME

The man said, "The woman whom You gave to be

with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate."

GENESIS 3 : 12

When things go wrong, the natural tendency is to look for someone to blame. You can go all the way back to the Garden of Eden on this one. When God asked Adam what he’d done, he said it was Eve’s fault. Then when God questioned Eve, she blamed it on the snake. The same thing happens today.

The next time you experience a failure, think about why you failed instead of who was at fault. Try to look at it objectively so that you can do better next time. Ask yourself:

What lessons have I learned?

How can I turn the failure into success?

Where did I succeed as well as fail?

People who blame others for their failures never overcome them. They simply move from problem to problem. To reach your potential, you must continually improve yourself, and you can’t do that if you don’t take responsibility for your actions and learn from your mistakes.

Your Road Map for Success

JANUARY 9

THE POWER OF PURPOSE

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things

which happened to me have actually turned out for the

furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident

to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my

chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the

Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much

more bold to speak the word without fear.

PHILIPPIANS 1 : 12 – 14

Paul might have been forgiven had he chosen to take a little sabbatical as he sat in prison, awaiting his trial. Yet he used even this opportunity to advance the gospel. Paul was a leader who never drifted from his mission. He determined to leave his mark wherever he went.

How did Paul’s sense of purpose keep him in the battle as he sat in prison? What did he learn behind bars?

Consider the following:

A purpose will motivate you.

A purpose will keep your priorities straight.

A purpose will develop your potential.

A purpose will give you power to live in the present.

A purpose will help you evaluate your progress.

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JANUARY 10

CHECKLIST BEFORE

TAKING NEW TERRITORY

Arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people,

to the land which I am giving to them—the children

of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread

upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.

JOSHUA 1 : 2 – 3

People need to be shown the team’s vision clearly, creatively, and continually. Whenever I endeavor to cast vision with the members of my team, I use the following checklist. I try to make sure that every vision message possesses . . .

Clarity: brings understanding to the vision (answers what the people must know and what you want them to do)

Connectedness: brings the past, present, and future together

Purpose: bring direction to the vision

Goals: bring targets to the vision

Honesty: brings integrity to the vision and credibility to the vision–caster

Stories: bring relationships to the vision

Challenge: brings stretching to the vision

Passion: brings fuel to the vision

Modeling: brings accountability to the vision

Strategy: brings process to the vision

The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

JANUARY 11

VISION BRINGS VICTORY

Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient

to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those

in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all

the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles,

that they should repent, turn to God, and

do works befitting repentance.

ACTS 26 : 19 – 20

Paul’s vision on the road to Damascus became the captivating force behind his success. The apostle teaches us the power of a vision. God’s vision for Paul accomplished a number of things:

It stopped him. Vision allows us to see ourselves. We see things not as they are, but as we are.

It sent him. Vision allows us to see others. We feel compelled to act.

It strengthened him. Vision enables us to continue despite struggles and lack of resources.

It stretched him. Vision gives us conviction to stand, confidence to speak, and compassion to share.

It satisfied him. Obedience to this vision motivates us to act. It fulfills us.

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JANUARY 12

LEADING THE LEADER

Lift your eyes now and look from the place

where you are—northward, southward, eastward,

and westward; for all the land which you see

I give to you and your descendants forever.

GENESIS 13 : 14 – 15

Vision is everything for a leader. It is utterly indispensable. Why? Because vision leads the leaders. It paints the targets, sparks and fuels the fire within, and draws them forward. And it is also the fire–lighter for others who follow those leaders. Show me a leader without vision, and I’ll show you someone who isn’t going anywhere. At best, they’re traveling in circles.

To get a handle on vision and how it comes to be a part of a good leader, understand these things:

1. Vision starts within.

2. Vision draws on your history.

3. Vision meets others’ needs.

4. Vision helps you gather resources.

One of the most valuable benefits of vision is that it acts like a magnet—attracting, challenging, and uniting people. The greater the vision, the more winners it has the potential to attract. The more challenging the vision, the harder the participants fight to achieve it.

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader

JANUARY 13

WHAT MAKES FOLLOWERS

LOVE TO SERVE?

And David said with longing, "Oh, that someone

would give me a drink of the water from the well

of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" So the three mighty

men broke through the camp of the Philistines,

drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was

by the gate, and took it and brought it to

David. Nevertheless he would not drink it,

but poured it out to the LORD.

2 SAMUEL 23 : 15 – 1 6

It was just a casual remark. Yet the moment David’s men heard their leader mutter the words, they immediately broke through enemy lines and braved Philistine swords and spears to retrieve a cup of the precious liquid.

Such astonishing loyalty doesn’t come from a mere job description. Loyalty like this comes only through modeling. David got this kind of second–mile effort because he had long modeled such loyalty for his men.

And it is that loyalty that drove him to do what he did next. David honored their sacrifice by presenting it to the Lord rather than drinking it. Who wouldn’t go the extra mile for a leader like that?

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JANUARY 14

LOVE PEOPLE,

REWARD PERFORMANCE

"Well done good and faithful servant; you have been

faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over

many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."

MATTHEW 25 : 23

Educators in the United States have been seeking ways to increase students’ test scores. One popular theory states that the best way to improve children’s ability is to puff up their self–esteem because high–achievers tend to have high self–esteem. However, researchers have found that simply building children’s egos breeds many negative traits: indifference to excellence, inability to overcome adversity, and aggressiveness toward people who criticize them.

Now, I place high value on praising people, especially children. But I also believe that you have to base your praise on truth. Here’s the approach I use to encourage and lead others:

Value people

Praise effort

Reward performance

I use that method with everyone, including myself. And no matter where I fail or how many mistakes I make, I don’t let it devalue my worth as a person. As the saying goes, God uses people who fail—cause there aren’t any other kinds around."

Failing Forward

JANUARY 15

PORTRAIT OF

A GODLY LEADER

LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle?

Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks

uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth

in his heart; He who does not backbite with his tongue,

nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a

reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person

is despised, but he honors those who fear the LORD;

he who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

he who does not put out his money at usury,

nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.

he who does these things shall never be moved.

PSALM 15 : 1 – 5

What qualities should every leader possess? Psalm 15 furnishes us with a list of many of the necessary traits. David pictures a godly leader as one who:

Possesses integrity

Does not participate in gossip

Does not harm others

Speaks out against wrong

Honors others who walk in truth

Keeps their word even at personal cost

Isn’t greedy to gain at the expense of others

Is strong and stable

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JANUARY 16

TALENT IS NOT ENOUGH

When a leader listens to malicious gossip,

all the workers get infected with evil.

PROVERBS 29 : 12 ( THE MESSAGE )

Author Denis Waitley says, The winner’s edge is not in a gifted birth, in a high IQ, or in talent. The winner’s edge is in the attitude, not aptitude. Unfortunately, many people resist that notion. They want to believe that talent alone (or talent with experience) is enough. But plenty of talented teams never amount to anything because of the attitudes of their players.

Take a look at how various attitudes impact a team made up of highly talented players:

ABILITIES + ATTITUDES = RESULT

Great Talent + Rotten Attitudes = Bad Team

Great Talent