DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Lead Like Jesus Daily Devotional ©2012 The Center for Faithwalk Leadership dba Lead Like Jesus All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotation in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. Published by The Center for Faithwalk Leadership dba Lead Like Jesus 3506 Professional Circle, Augusta, GA 30907 800.383.6890 LeadLikeJesus.com Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. ISBN-13: 9781612914503 Printed in the United States of America
Dear Reader, It is with great joy that I invite you to a daily connection with our Heavenly Father through the pages of this book. We are deeply grateful for Debbie Piper, Lead Like Jesus Master Facilitator, whose written words are truly the overflow of her heart and an invitation to yours. We believe that effective leadership begins on the inside with the heart. We also believe the only way to have a healthy heart is by creating time and space to connect with the Father as Jesus did while He was on earth. Through the pages of this book, there are reminders of what God’s Word has to say about a specific topic, insights for application, and prayers especially for your life. Remember that our desire is to help you create a habit of connecting with the Father. It isn’t just about how many Scripture verses you memorize (although it is a helpful thing to do) or checking off your “daily devotion.” In fact, spending time reading this book or setting aside space to be with God is not about you improving who you are at all. Reading these devotions daily will not provide a ladder to get up to God; He has already come down to you. These devotions are thoughtful reflections to remind you that we have been redeemed today and forever by His grace. The space we create for God to speak and act in our lives will remind us of His great one-way love for us in that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). His love for us grows love in us, and then from us! It is as we soak in His unconditional love, the antidote for our pride and fear, that our hearts become healthy and we find freedom to lead, love, and live boldly in service to others. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19) Amen! Praying for you,
Phyllis H. Hendry President & CEO Lead Like Jesus
DEBBIE PIPER HAS BEEN DEVELOPING AND EQUIPPING LEADERS SINCE 1986. An experienced leadership coach, author, consultant and speaker, Debbie is gifted at connecting people and ideas. She serves leaders, churches, organizations, and corporations, helping to create results-based strategies that align people with their personal strengths, one another, and organizational goals. As a coach, Debbie helps leaders discover creative solutions and design effective next steps. As a facilitator and speaker, her presentations are marked by creativity, interaction, and insight customized for the needs of participants.
Debbie has been a Lead Like Jesus facilitator since August 2007 and a master trainer since 2011. Debbie works with the Florida Baptist Convention to spread the Lead Like Jesus message to churches, ministry leaders, and pastors throughout Florida. Debbie’s writing credits include a book, curriculum, small group studies, several devotional series, and creative development pieces for organizations and corporations. She is also the author of the 2011, 2012, and 2013 Lead Like Jesus Devotions included in this book. Find out more about Debbie online at WWW.DEBBIEPIPERCONSULTING.COM.
A DIFFERENT WAY JESUS CALLED THEM TOGETHER AND SAID, “YOU KNOW THAT THE RULERS OF THE GENTILES LORD IT OVER THEM, AND THEIR HIGH OFFICIALS EXERCISE AUTHORITY OVER THEM. NOT SO WITH YOU. INSTEAD, WHOEVER WANTS TO BECOME GREAT AMONG YOU MUST BE YOUR SERVANT…” MATTHEW 20:25-26
Looking at the world around us, it is easy to assume that the only way to lead is to look out for ourselves. Looking at Jesus offers a different perspective. We hear His words, “Not so with you.” We see Him wash His disciples’ feet. His words and actions model a new way of leadership. Whose model of leadership are you following? PRAYER
Lord, I want my life to be different. I choose to follow You. I want to model my life after Your life, not after the world. Help me learn what that means. Show me how I can serve others today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
5
A FRESH START BECAUSE OF THE LORD’S GREAT LOVE WE ARE NOT CONSUMED, FOR HIS COMPASSIONS NEVER FAIL. THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING; GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS. LAMENTATIONS 3:22-23
Each morning gives us a fresh start, a new opportunity to take the tendency to edge God out and exchange it for a perspective of exalting God only. Each morning gives us a chance to reflect and regroup, to breathe deeply of God and renew our energy for the day ahead. The newness of each day reflects God’s ongoing work of grace, grace that frees us from the past and offers a way forward. Grace offers God’s presence and power at the point of your need. Where do you need a fresh start? PRAYER
Lord, thank You for fresh starts. Thank You for Your grace, poured out through the cross and through the Spirit. Thank You that Jesus comes to me and invites me to move forward. Help me to move forward into this day as one who extends grace to others so that they, too, can have fresh starts. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
6
365 DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A LEADER’S PRAYER ...GOD SAID, “ASK FOR WHATEVER YOU WANT ME TO GIVE YOU.” SOLOMON ANSWERED, “… I AM ONLY A LITTLE CHILD AND DO NOT KNOW HOW TO CARRY OUT MY DUTIES.… SO GIVE YOUR SERVANT A DISCERNING HEART TO GOVERN YOUR PEOPLE AND TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG.” 1 KINGS 3:5-9
What is your greatest need as a leader? Your answer to that question might vary day by day, depending on the challenge you’re currently facing. It’s easy to focus on externals, like “If only that person would do something differently” or “If only these circumstances would change.” When God offered to give Solomon anything he asked for, Solomon wisely focused on himself. He admitted that he was dependent on God, and humbly asked God to give him the discernment to lead well. PRAYER
God, what a privilege it is to be used by You to influence others. I want my influence to count. I humbly admit that I need You to show me how to lead well. Please give me the discernment I need to lead Your people. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
7
A NEW WAY OF LEADING: LOVE SO NOW I AM GIVING YOU A NEW COMMANDMENT: LOVE EACH OTHER. JUST AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, YOU SHOULD LOVE EACH OTHER. YOUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER WILL PROVE TO THE WORLD THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES. JOHN 13:34-35 (NLT)
After washing His disciples’ feet, Jesus gave them a new command: “Love one another.” No longer was love for others to be defined by the Old Testament teaching of loving our neighbors as we love ourselves; Jesus’ love for us is now the standard by which true love is measured. Jesus had already demonstrated His humility and selfless nature throughout His life and ministry, and He was about to go to the cross to give up His life so that others could live. What does obedience to His command to love one another look like in your life today? PRAYER
Jesus, I can’t obey Your command to love in my own strength. Give me a new heart and a new spirit; transform my thinking about love. Open my eyes to how You want me to love the people in my life. Transform me into a person who loves others like You love me. In Your Name, Amen.
8
365 DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A TRANSFORMED LIFE AND WE, WHO WITH UNVEILED FACES ALL REFLECT THE LORD’S GLORY, ARE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO HIS LIKENESS WITH EVER-INCREASING GLORY, WHICH COMES FROM THE LORD, WHO IS THE SPIRIT. 2 CORINTHIANS 3:18
Simon Peter and Andrew and James and John, are two sets of brothers who heard Jesus’ call. From being competitors in business, they found themselves transformed into followers of Jesus, and eventually into ministry partners. Jesus has a way of taking us on life-transforming journeys, and nothing is left untouched: personality, business, or relationships. What part of your life does He want to transform today? PRAYER
Jesus, I hear Your call. I don’t know what all it will mean in my life, but I want to respond. And I want You to start Your transformational work right here where You find me. Transform my character, my relationships, and my daily work. I want to look, speak, and act like You. In Your Name, Amen.
9
AN AUDIENCE OF ONE WORK HARD AND CHEERFULLY AT WHATEVER YOU DO, AS THOUGH YOU WERE WORKING FOR THE LORD RATHER THAN FOR PEOPLE. REMEMBER THAT THE LORD WILL GIVE YOU AN INHERITANCE AS YOUR REWARD, AND THE MASTER YOU ARE SERVING IS CHRIST. COLOSSIANS 3:23-24 (NLT)
Whom do you serve? Is it hard to come up with a list? Or is the list of names that comes to mind overwhelming? When all is said and done, each of us serves only one person. Allow your mind today to focus on serving and pleasing God. As His servant, move into each situation with a conscious awareness of His presence, listening for His voice to direct you. PRAYER
Jesus, just like You kept Your eyes and ears tuned to the Father’s voice, I want to move through this day listening for Your direction and seeing others through Your eyes. Whatever I do, I want to focus on pleasing You above all others this day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
10
365 DAILY DEVOTIONAL