There are a plethora of leadership concepts that have been written about - democratic, autocratic, strategic, coaching, & servant leadership - just to name a few. But over the last several months I have been processing a new kind of leadership - SANCTUARY LEADERSHIP. Sanctuary Leadership is the capacity to lead from a place of God's presence. You see, most leadership concepts are about doing, but Sanctuary Leadership is about proximity. Not to what you do, but to the God who gave you the capacity to do what you do!
"Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost." ~1 Corinthians 6:19
I have discovered that the closer I get to Jesus the better I get at what I do, the more opportunities God puts in front of me, and yes, the more criticism I face. Sanctuary Leadership is not what you do, but leading from knowing whose you are.
You are God's child.
You are God's choice.
You are God's collectible.
There is nobody like you! That's a fact!!! When God made you He broke the mold. You are designed on purpose for a purpose. To be honest, it is easy for leaders to get lost in what they do and quickly lose sight of who they do it for! At least that happens to me from time to time. I have to remind myself the best way to get to my destiny is to pursue God's presence at all times, in all seasons. That's Sanctuary Leadership. Choosing to lead from beyond my gifts!
"Do you not know that you are God's Temple, and that God's spirit dwells in you?" ~ 1 Corinthians 3:16
Many leaders utilize their talents at the expense of their time with Jesus. That's a large reason for the morale collapses we see among emerging leaders. One of the great ways to protect your leadership is with an everyday proximity to God's presence.
Are you spending time with Jesus?
In prayer? In Bible reading? In worship?
The best of Christian leaders will understand Sanctuary Leadership is more important than any other type of leadership, because our life begins and ends with Jesus in first place! So, the question has to be, "What does Sanctuary Leadership look like practically?"
Sanctuary Leadership is about presence
As a leader, we must understand that living life with God opens up every other opportunity you will ever experience. Some leaders get it backwards. They work harder, longer thinking that is the key to successful leadership. That may work in corporate world, but not the Christian world. Yes, of course we should work hard, but that is not the primary function of Sanctuary Leadership. For me, the best leadership starts with spending time with God everyday. If I do that, I believe God will open the right doors and close the wrong ones!
Sanctuary Leadership is about priorities
I set the priorities of my life and leadership based on my relationship with Christ. He sets the agenda. I put Him first and He helps me strategically align my priorities with His presence. Anything that takes me from His presence is not a priority for me. For example; I don't answer calls or text messages before 7:00am (sometimes later). Why? That would interrupt my personal time with God. I also don't do breakfast appointments - this would rush my time with God. Out of my time with God flows my priorities. Here they are, in order: (1) God, (2) Marriage, (3) Kids, (4) Family, (5) Church, & (6) Friends. These are my priorities.
Sanctuary Leadership is about purpose
Don't spend your leadership doing things that do not fulfill a higher purpose. God has designed you on purpose and for a purpose. That means the more time you spend with God as a Sanctuary Leader the more purpose will be revealed to you. I can honestly say that every successful creative idea, every dream, and every priority for my life and leadership flows out of time in God's presence. Notice I said successful! The ideas that come from any other place seem to fail at an alarming rate!
Sanctuary Leadership is about being in God's presence more than doing things for God! As I find myself in His presence the more He will enable me to do! It all starts with time with God!
Choose to be a Sanctuary Leader today!