We are standing on the precipice of an urgent hour. Our world has shifted dramatically, permanently. That’s an undisputed fact.
What’s also undisputed is that the leaders of this hour, whether they be spiritual or social, political or parental, economic or educational…these leaders are being formed and shaped in a crucible of unrelenting pressure.
We live in a day and age with emails that never stop, chaos that threatens overthrows and criticism that never sleeps. What toll is this taking on our collective souls? What damage is this doing in life of our leaders?
You see, I believe should the Lord tarry, that over the next 10 years, our leaders are going to be called upon to make some of the most critical decisions of their lives. Actually, the most critical decisions of ALL our lives. Because that’s what leaders do, right? They make decisions that affect us all.
Where will those decisions come from? What will be the soil out of which those solutions are birthed?
We all know that a heart at rest innovates best. We also know that intentional moments of refreshing can change the trajectory of a legacy. And right now our leaders are anything but rested or refreshed.
You can ask many leaders right now and if they are honest, they will tell you, as they have told me, that the soil of their leadership is shallow, strained, running on empty and void of precious nutrients.
NOBODY makes good decisions when they are depleted. And yet that’s what’s happening all over the world.
BUT, With God’s help an ancient framework is beginning to reappear. And with your partnership, we have the opportunity to once again sow HOPE into the soil of our leaders. To bring rest into their lives. To see times of refreshing in our land.
But in order to see that happen, to see refreshing and renewal in our land, we must intentionally engage in the refreshing and renewal of our leaders. For far too long we have expected too much and supported too little. The time has come to Invest in Rest.
This isn’t a new concept. The writer of Hebrews admonishes us to be “responsive to our leaders. To listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God.” Listen to this. “Contribute to the joy of their leadership not it’s drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?”
We live in a world that LOVES to contribute to the drudgery of leaders. We who are believers should be operating in the opposite spirit.
So how do we CONTRIBUTE to their joy?
Do we give our leaders the opportunity to be refreshed and renewed in the intimate presence of God? Do we encourage our leaders to take time to process things in their own hearts? Do we provide non-judgmental and empathetic advisors who will listen…who will help them navigate life, love, loss, marriage, singleness and parenting? Do we give them space to lead? Do we contribute to the joy of their leadership?
Or do we burden them unnecessary things simply because our own intimacy with God is so far gone?
To see refreshing and renewal in our land we must intentionally engage in the refreshing and renewal of our leaders.