Issue #47, January 12, 2011
Happy New Year! The beginning of a new year is an annual cycle that God built into our world to allow us to deal with the past and have a fresh start. People from every culture gladly welcome a chance to forget the past and have a fresh start. Servant leaders use the time to perceive new things that God wants to do.
Hundreds of years ago the prophet Isaiah said these words, Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland (Is. 43:18-21). These verses call servant leaders to two actions which are particularly relevant for a new year.
Servant leaders deal with the past.
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. In the past year we undoubtedly experienced some successes and some failures, some joy and some pain. Reflection and learning from the past is beneficial, but leaders cannot focus on the past. If the past is negative and we focus on it, we develop bitterness, resentment and will not be able to move forward. Past failures can keep us from trying again. But what if last year was a great year filled with victories and successes? Dwelling on past successes can also cripple us from moving forward. We can easily desire nothing greater than a repetition of last year’s accomplishments.
Servant leaders are able to deal with their past because of the grace of God. God’s forgiveness is able to cleanse our past failures and He provides a proper perspective on success. God’s grace provides healing from pain and hurt and enables us to try again after failure.
To think about: Have I left behind the good and the bad from last year?
Servant leaders perceive the new.
See, I am doing a new thing! By nature God is creative and innovative and does things that have not been done before. He has never been stuck in a rut. Instead, He provides direction in the desert where there is clearly marked path. He provides streams of provision where there are no resources. God is able and willing to do new things in your personal life and in your leadership this new year.
These new things are God’s things. Of course, God uses human hands and minds to carry out His purposes. But the new things God wants to do through your leadership this year are more about Him than you! He wants to do new things in your church, business, school, or organization but they are all to bring glory to God.
The question for servant leaders is, “Do you not perceive it?” Can you see what God wants to do this year? Listening, waiting, and sensing what God is doing is not easy or natural for action oriented leaders. But perceiving what God wants to do is a skill that servant leaders continually work to prefect. Many leaders set ambitious goals at the beginning of a new year and this is commendable. However, servant leaders are ambitious to hear what new thing God wants to do. When they perceive what God wants to do they move forward with confidence and have the joy of seeing God show the way and providing what is needed on the journey.
To think about: Have I taken as much time to perceive what God wants to do this year as I have to dream about what I want to accomplish?
For further reflection and discussion:
- When I think about the past, am I most likely to be discouraged by defeat or seduced by success? How can I release the past to God?
- What happens when I move forward in a new year when I have not perceived the new things that God wants to do? What is the result in my personal life? In my followers?
- New things come from God but what role do servant leaders play in the process of thinking of new products, new ways to reach our communities, or new strategies for success?