The Leaders Schedule

I have found that my schedule is more important than anything else as a leader. If I don’t control my schedule, I have found that someone will. This is a constant struggle that can only be satisfied through prayer. Daily, I have discovered that I should ask God to help me accomplish those things He needs me to do each day. Our authors this week, Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby, have very adequately penned, “Spiritual leaders understand God has granted them adequate time to accomplish any assignment he gives them.” I think the keyword here is “HE.” Time is not something that I can control. Time is not something that I can manage. God has given me the ability to discipline and lead myself. He expects that of me.

With that thought in mind, I must learn the difference (for Kevin) between what is good and what is God. There are numerous choices and opportunities available to us as spiritual leaders in our current world. What is good in Austin, Texas, or Birmingham, Alabama, may or may not be suitable for me in New Oxford, Pennsylvania. Furthermore, the question must shift back to the distinction between good and God. This is difficult to do as a leader because we often struggle with saying no. This is a first cousin to our more significant problem, many times: being a people-pleasing Pastor. That is another post for another occasion.

Personally, God has been speaking to me about the importance of rest. I sometimes work as though God cannot rule as the Sovereign Lord and King of Kings if I don’t stay up late and get up early. He needs me to consistently work hours that eventually lead to ill health and poor family relationships. We believe that God is glorified when we feel overwhelmed and worn out, both physically and spiritually. My mind is drawn to the disciples the night Jesus was arrested. They were in the garden with him. He had already come to them once and asked, “Could you not tarry with me one hour?” Now he’s back again in Matthew 26:45–46 (NLT) — 45 Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!” I find in this scripture a group of leaders who were not getting the rest they needed. At the moment of their most fantastic time, they could not even stay awake.

Interestingly, these guys were so close to Jesus and still did not have it right. This suggests that you can be as close as the disciples were, but you still must manage and control the resources that God has entrusted to you. He will not do that for you.