In looking at leadership we considered some specific leaders in the bible and considered what it was that made them effective in what they did.
Interestingly one of the first points we considered was that it was God that called these people to be leaders and sometimes they were not to keen to take up the challenge! Moses was an example of this, simply asking God to find someone else. God's response was to reinforce his call to leadership, reminding Moses that He would be with him every step of the way. This personal support of any of the leaders that we looked at by God was key to the success of what they were called to do.
Equally the next thing that we noticed was that each of these leaders devoted time to cultivating their relationship with God. Spending time in prayer, listening and talking to God about their concerns, the pressures and the challenges that lay ahead.
I am always struck by the Psalmist's call to be still and know that I am God. There is something about centring ourselves on God that enables us to carry out all the things we are called to do and be. Even within the hectic schedules that we all face, this call to be still is essential.
Jesus demonstrated this time and time again, walking away from the crowds to find a place of solitude and pray. This was at the centre of his life and ministry and so it was for all the leaders we have considered.
That call remains the same to all of us, what ever our gifts or talents and what ever our calling looks like. Remembering that God is with us and taking the time to cultivate our relationship with him is as essential now as it was thousands of years ago.
