A Daily Thought for Upcoming Leaders

© 2013 by Hammie & Alti van Zyl. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/05/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4817-9838-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-9837-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-9839-6 (e)

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A Daily Thought for

Upcoming Leaders

All scriptures are quoted from The Holy Bible, New International Version, unless otherwise stated. Published by The Bible Society in Australia Inc.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, New Century Version®, Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Let Us Begin

You are an upcoming leader who needs training to serve in God`s army for the end-times ahead. From today, you are in God`s leadership school. Over the next year, God wants to prepare you and train you to be an end-time leader in His army. But what is an end-time leader? Let us explain it to you with the following story:

One day, the family dog gave birth to a litter of puppies. The small daughter was very excited about the puppies and spent most of her time with them. As they grew up, she started to carry them around, feed them, and play with them. Most of all, she liked to put the puppies in her doll’s pram and then, with great effort, she pushed them around in their yard. One day, the mother watched her daughter push them in her pram while talking to the puppies all the time saying, This is what the street looks like. You must be careful when you cross it, because the cars can kill you. This is our flower bed, isn’t it beautiful? But you must never play in it, because then you will get into trouble.

Suddenly she called out and said, Look Mother, I am the leader of the puppies, because I help them to see things they will never see on their own.

This is exactly what an end-time leader is — someone who helps others to see things they will never see on their own.

•   To see hope in total hopelessness

•   To see provision when or where all the resources are already depleted (because God will be their source)

•   To see solutions for impossible situations (because God will be their strength and their wisdom)

•   To see a way where there seems to be no way

The white rhinoceros lives on the open grass plains of Africa; but the black rhinoceros, who lives mostly off leaves, prefers the woodlands. Both these rhino mothers will, at all times, protect their young with their lives, but they differ in the way they do it. The white rhino will walk behind her young, because in the open grasslands the enemy comes from behind. The black rhino walks in front of her young, because in the woodlands the enemy attacks from the front. Sometimes a leader must pave the way by walking in front. Sometimes he or she needs to serve by walking behind.

End-time leaders never steal the spotlight, but lead without drawing attention to themselves. In a very simple way, they teach others to live in the supernatural as if it were the natural, and introduce them to the God of the impossible. They model a lifestyle of trust in God`s faithfulness. But mostly, a great end-time leader leads by serving others, pouring himself or herself out in service of King Jesus and His bride.

By reading one thought daily and meditating on it, you will allow God to change you into an end-time leader in His army. Don’t think, Oh no, I cannot follow all these do`s and don`ts. You don’t have to do it in your own strength, but just be willing to allow God to change you daily to become more like Jesus. His Spirit, who works within you, will do it through you. For leadership has very little to do with what you do, but has everything to do with who you are. Leadership is first being, then doing.

Enjoy this exciting journey day by day over the next year with us.

1 January

Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’, and your ‘No’, ‘No’ . . . .

(Matthew 5:37)

Always do what you say you will do — even if it is unpleasant and inconvenient for you. If people think about you, they must know you are someone they can trust. Be someone who will keep your word, regardless of the situation.

My prayer

My Father, please help me to become a person others can trust at all times. Help me to be someone who always keeps my word. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

2 January

If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matthew 5:39)

Don’t fight back; let God fight for you. Your reaction must always bring peace rather than start a fight.

My prayer

My Father, please help me not to repay others for the wrong they did to me. Teach me to let go and react in the opposite spirit. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

3 January

If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. (Matthew 5:41)

Always do more and help more than what is expected of you. Don’t rush to finish a task, but do it with excellence. Do everything you do as if you do it for Jesus himself.

My prayer

My Father, please make me willing to go the extra mile (do the extra bit) in everything I have to do in life. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

4 January

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:44-45)

It is easy to love your friends, but program and train your heart to love those who hurt you, who don’t like you, and those who oppose you. Then you bear the fruit of a true son of God.

My prayer

My Father, please help me to love the people who hurt me and make life difficult for me. I pray that you will work in their lives and bless them. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

5 January

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8)

Even though you live in this world, you mustn’t become like this world. Don’t let the ways of the world corrupt your heart. In everything you do, ask yourself what Jesus would do if He was in your situation.

My prayer

My Father, please let your Holy Spirit show me all the wrong things in my heart. Help me to keep my heart clean and pure. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

6 January

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)

Always be the first to make peace. Often the natural reaction of our flesh is not to make peace, but we must allow our spirit to dictate what we do, not our flesh. Choose peace, even when it hurts, because then you will be called a child of God.

My prayer

My Father, please help me to be a peacemaker. I choose to let Jesus, the Prince of Peace, rule in my heart and change me to be more like Him. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

7 January

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)

God will not always give you everything you want in life, but He will always provide for all your needs. If you make God your first priority and focus, He will take care of everything you need.

My prayer

God, I choose to place you in the centre of my life and to allow nothing to take your place in my life. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

8 January

For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged… . (Matthew 7:2)

Focus on the good in others. Don’t focus on others’ faults and mistakes. If they do something wrong that upsets you, tell God about it (and do not gossip about it or criticise them about it).

My prayer

My Father, please help me to stop judging others and pointing fingers to the wrong they are doing. Rather give me a heart to pray for them and talk to them in love and with gentleness. Open my eyes for the good in others and help me to focus on that. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

9 January

Do to others what you want them to do to you. (Matthew 7:12, NCV)

When you do something to someone (like making jokes about them, or gossiping, or talking to them in a nasty way) ask yourself, Will I like it if he or she does that to me? Always treat others in the same way you want them to treat you.

My prayer

My Father, help me to treat others the way I would like them to treat me: with love, respect and fairness. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

10 January

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 7:19)

You will be known by your fruit. It does not help to say you are a Christian, but others cannot see the fruit of it in your life. The fruit of the Spirit in your life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Your reactions must show you are God’s child.

My prayer

My Father, please help me to bear the fruit of the Spirit in my life. Help me to bear the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Let my life draw people to you. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

11 January

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)

Do you follow the will of your heavenly Father? Will you obey Him, even if He asks you to do something very difficult? It is easy to sound like a Christian, but do you live like one?

My prayer

My Father, please make me willing to do everything you ask of me. Change my will to be in line with your will. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

12 January

Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.’ (Matthew 9:37)

There are many people who need someone to come and tell them about Jesus, but there are very few people who are willing to go. What about you, are you willing to be a worker in God`s field, even if it will cost you your life?

My prayer

My Father, please make me willing to tell others about you. Change my heart that I will always be ready to share the gospel with others. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

13 January

Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:32)

Are you ashamed to talk about Jesus in front of others? Do others know that you are a child of God, or do you keep it a secret? If you want Jesus to talk to the Father about you, then you must be willing to talk to others about Him.

My prayer

My Father, I am sorry that so often I don’t talk