Here is the devotional:
Numbers 14:5-9 – “5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, ‘The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.’”
In the midst of people second-guessing God, Joshua stood his ground and stated “…The Lord is with us. Do not be afraid…”
There are many things I love about Joshua; in fact, I named my first born Joshua. But the best part of this passage is that Joshua wasn’t just stating his opinion but rather testifying to what he had seen and what God said He was going to do for the people of Israel.
A leader isn’t just the loudest of the group, and he is not the biggest of the group. He is the person who God has positioned and prepared for the role of leadership. While it may not have been anticipated, it was a seamless change of leadership from Moses to Joshua because God had prepared Joshua ahead of time. Notice that Joshua stated his view and challenged the Israelite assembly. He didn’t insult them or intimidate them… he spoke the truth! God’s Truth!
What kind of leader are you? Are you the most forward in the group and the first to step up? Or do you only seek the role of leadership when no one else will? While leadership skills may be built into your DNA, those skills have to be honed to be a benefit for others. How many times do you hear Jesus yelling at people to get their attention in the Bible? People would gather around pushing and shoving just to get near him and listen to what he had to say.
Leadership comes in many forms, and you may find that your family is waiting for you to lead. Your career is waiting for you to lead. Do so with God leading you.
Questions:
Is God preparing you for a leadership role?
Are you seeking God’s instruction to grow as a leader?
What are you doing to put yourself in the right position when God calls you to lead?
Challenge:
God did not call you to stay where you are. See God’s will for where He wants to lead you, and be willing to move when He says it’s time!
Here are the scriptures referenced:
There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1:5-9 KJV
Here are Stu’s thoughts:
Leadership is a unique position to hold. It takes time, patience and understanding to get.
Trust me. Just because you just married your bride does not mean you are ready to lead her.
That first word in the first sentence is very important. She has to trust you in order to submit to your leadership.
Decision-making is not a one person job by the way. Respect your spouse and ask her opinion. Never take her opinion for granted.
Pray about the decision to be made. If you feel God giving the go ahead then follow His lead.
*If you follow that prompting you feel and it turns out to not be the Lord but rather you own desires and you flub up apologize to your spouse. Take responsibility for your actions!*
Apologizing for errors made is building trust…unless it’s adultery…then you’ve lost all trust.
Just because you have it all together at work and know every position does not mean you are ready for leadership role.
Your coworkers should respect you. They will not follow you if they don’t respect you. A leader at work leads by example. Don’t ask them to do something that you yourself are not willing to do.
Your leadership team should see your integrity at work!
Often times God is preparing us for leadership roles that we don’t expect.
Or He could bless you with a leadership role because you won’t step up to the plate and He has done whispered it in your ears a time or two. You keep saying it’s not time but God knows otherwise.
Be courageous and take that step of faith! God will not bring you to something and then just leave you to hang yourself.
Mind you P’s & Q’s. Don’t curse out or belittle your wife, your kids or your fellow coworkers! Build them UP!
Something to Stu Over 
Sometimes it’s a tough decision to go ahead with a plan or idea or leadership. Other times you can’t stop your self. I think God works in us differently at different times; and it’s hard to interpret sometimes.
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It is tough at at times Kathy. We all have that fear of failure and/or letting people down.
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