Reflection 4: What You Can Do Where You Are

"In Ellen White's perspective, the most important qualification for a leader is the calling and empowerment of the Spirit. This anointing comes in response to the leader's willingness to ask daily, in humility for the Spirit's renewal and guidance and to respond to His promptings with selfless obedience and service." Pg. 139

This statement from Cindy Tutsch which summarizes Ellen White's perspective on leadership is probably the most challenging aspect of leadership for those of us who are in leadership. How do we know and ensure that what we think is the leading of the Holy Spirit is not the product of our own hopes, dreams, fears, experiences, etc. While it is true that the Holy Spirit speaks through out impressions and through our experiences, it is always difficult as a leader to make sure that we are being led by the Spirit.

What is truly needed is the humility spoken of in the quote with which we will recognize that not only does the Spirit lead us but He leads others around us. With that humility we are able to recognize that at times we do not hear the Spirit clearly and that at times we hear clearly but like Daniel we do not yet understand the message.

"Leaders in responsible positions who do not pray continually for divine wisdom will develop a distorted worldview and will forfeit God's blessing, which will result in personal failure. . . In times of crises or emergency, God waits for leaders to pray in order that He can intervene."

It is only the Holy Spirit who can keep us from developing a distorted worldview. So many times in leadership, we endure hurts, disappointments, and setbacks which have the potential for distorting our worldview. We come to believe that individuals and systems are against us. We are tempted to believe that either God is against us or has forgotten about us. And it is only as we pray and watch God intervene that our worldviews are restored to proper perspective.

"Perhaps the most precise example would be Exodus 18, in which Jethro tells Moses that he represents God to the people. In commenting on this in The Acts of the Apostles, Ellen White affirms this view of leadership-leaders are human beings who represent God, His character, and His purpose to those whom they are called to influence."

And this is why we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our leadership. This is our greatest privilege, our greatest responsibility and our greatest challenge.