Reflections on Servant Leader Character: Moving into the Future

In this concluding chapter, I would like to provide a final framework for cultivating ongoing growth as a servant leader. The first element is to renew our commitment to God every day. The key is to recognize that the only means for long-term change and growth is to receive a never-ending supply of God’s saving, healing, and empowering grace. When our focus centers on “my” effort, “my” work, “my” accomplishments, we fail to recognize the Holy Spirit is the source of the power, strength, and energy to make lasting change in others and ourselves. As servant leaders, our first commitment is to maintain the vertical relationship with God so we have the strength and power to serve and love others around us. From a practical standpoint, this entails an intentionality of mind, body, and spirit that recognizes the source and nature of our strengths and weaknesses. Hence, we commit every day a tithe of time, or ten percent of our waking hours, to activities explicitly devoted to cultivating our relationship to God. This would include Bible reading, prayer, meditation, or simple quiet time. The principle is not a legalistic ritual, but a dynamic expression of our love and dependence on God. We also should strive to dedicate the “best” times of our day according to our unique biological clock. During this time, seek the Lord’s guidance on how to prioritize our time. Always remember that when we embrace God’s plan and agenda, we tap into the supernatural realm of power exponentially increasing our efficiency and effectiveness.