To be effective in leadership means several things. Among them are perspective and priorities. My pastor got my attention the other day when he talked about perspective. Dr. Robert Jeffress said, “It is amazing how short two weeks seems when you are on a vacation…and how long it seems when you are on a diet!” The actual time is the same. It is just our perspective on what is happening during that time.

The Bible reminds us that a thousand years is like a day to the Lord, and a day is like a thousand years (read Psalm 90 verse 4). God’s perspective is different than ours.

That got me thinking about how those who lead need to live with the right perspective and the right priorities. I’ve come across some things that may help all of us in this area. Here is some advice from leadership coach John Maxwell.

To Stay Focused in Life:

  • You can’t know everyone.
  • You can’t do everything.
  • You can’t go everywhere.

We have to pick and choose between good and a little bit better.

While it may be important to finish you plans for the new year, or that appeal letter, is it more important than helping a staff member or volunteer in their time of need? Is that just an interruption to your schedule? Dr. Henry Blackaby talked about the busyness of ministry, and how it can cause us to miss what the Lord Jesus has for us to do.

“It’s easy to become so busy that you are oblivious to those in need. Your schedule can become so full of accomplishing good things that you are of no help to the people around you. God is at work in the lives of your friends, your neighbors, your family members. He may ask you to interrupt your day long enough to join Him as He ministers to them.”

– Experiencing God Day by Day

Many times, it comes down to our personal character. Our character is built brick by brick through the experiences of life…good and bad. Our choices in times of conflict or challenge help determine how we will lead others. Again, John Maxwell addresses the idea of “character.” He says,

“Your success stops where your character stops. You can never rise above the limitations of your character.”

So… some suggestions as we navigate this new year.

  1. Relax a bit. Try to see life from God’s perspective and with His priorities. That stack of things on your desk or the long “To Do” list will be there tomorrow. Remember, you can’t do everything. So, take a breath and relax.
  2. Reorient yourself to God’s voice. The Lord may have an assignment that only you can do. You may be so busy with good things that you miss the most important. Remember Jesus, Mary, and Martha. Martha was interested in getting the meal ready. Important. But the Lord said, “Mary has chosen what is better.”
  3. Rely on God’s priorities for your life. Only He has the eternal perspective that can align your will with His. And the Lord’s will is always best. Not always the easiest, but the best.

My friend Dr. Jim Denison wrote, “So, make your plans for the new year and the new day, then trust them to God’s providence. Prepare for tomorrow but prepare even more for eternity. And your peace ‘which surpasses all understanding’ will be a powerful witness to a fearful culture (Philippians 4:7). The safest place to be is in the center of the will of God.”

Relax. Reorient. Rely. The Lord’s got this!

God’s best…