Character- A leader worth following

Sometimes I feel like God has got the wrong guy. It is likely that God will use all of us in areas beyond what our character seems ready for. Too often the temptation is to cover our flaws, hoping they are as elusive to others as we pretend they are to ourselves.

The problem here, is that character is personal, but it is not private. Eventually the truth comes out. I think it’s interesting that we think God put us in our position for the good of a task, rather than the good of His Spirit in us. Could it be our character is stretched not so we can cover it and accomplish what we have been given, but so we can have it transformed through the journey the Spirit is leading us on? Could it be the very things we are struggling with are they keys we are searching for to unlock what God has called us to do?

I think so often we fail in accomplishing the vision God has given us, not because of a lack of competence, but because of our disinterest in developing our character as priority before accomplishing the vision. You can lead without character. But character is what makes you a leader worth following. We are always one decision, one word, one reaction away from damaging what has taken years to develop.

Those who choose to follow you want you to be a leader worth following. They will judge you not so much for where you led them, but how you led them. Their stories will always include their personal estimation of you as a person, not just your leadership skills. The truth is that those who choose to follow you will expect more from you by way of character than they expect from themselves.

[Currently playing on my IPod: Spin by Lifehouse]