“Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” – 1 Samuel 14

In Part 1 of our Heart and Soul Leadership topic we shared these four attributes of a Heart and Soul Leader:

1. THEY ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF THEIR PERSONAL LIVES
2. THEY ARE OBEDIENT TO GOD’S PRINCIPLES
3. THEY ARE FULL OF FAITH & POSITIVITY
4. THEY SPEAK FAMILY LANGUAGE

Let’s continue with a couple of more attributes.

THEY HAVE CONSECRATED THEIR HEARTS TO HANDLE BOTH COMPLIMENTS AND CORRECTION
The Bible shares that we are to give honor where honor is do. The Bible (1 Timothy 5:17) is also clear to give double honor to those that share the word of God and do so productively (my emphasis). As a leader, we must learn to receive the compliments from others with a humble spirit BUT also receive the correction from God ordained leadership in our lives. Let me make a side note here, “Sheep don’t correct the Shepherd.” A good and real shepherd will be a person with authority and under authority. Beware of any leader/shepherd in a church that has no authority/spiritual mentors in their lives (this is just a side thought that may help someone).

Anyway, Heart and Soul Leaders have conditioned their hearts to handle both compliment and correction. We don’t take ourselves that serious and lift our noses to others but we do take our ministry place very serious giving our best always. To receive the compliment but not be able to handle the correction/adjustment from the leader reveals the immaturity and condition of the heart. Correction is no fun! I’ll say it again, “Correction is no fun!” However, if received it will make one better and stronger. Heart and Soul Leaders are open to both for they know their shepherd loves them, cares for them and has their best interest at heart (if he/she is a good shepherd).

THEY ARE LIFTERS
I’m not talking about weights here, although every Pastor wouldn’t mind a “beast” on the team to intimidate the haters (just kidding, kinda!) Lifters are people that lift the leader and others around them. Lifters attract others while non-lifters get avoided. Your leadership has the fruit of one of these two. What does your fruit look like?

In Exodus 17, Moses was instructed to hold his staff above his head as he looked down from the mountain while the Hebrews were in a battle against the enemy of God. While his hands were lifted, God’s people prevailed. When his arms became weary and began to come down, the enemy prevailed. Then at that moment of weariness, two Heart and Soul leaders surrounded Moses and lifted his hands until the battle was won. Aaron and Hur were the two men that were LIFTERS. The greatest place we can be for our leaders and brothers and sisters in the Lord is right up under their arms lifting the load so we can win the battles. God never called us to do ministry or life alone. We need leaders leading and lifters lifting and together if we are in our places we will see God’s Kingdom prevail.

Heart and Soul Lifters look like this:
• You don’t have to worry if they will show up or be late (being late consistently drives me crazy. It’s rude, especially if others are relying on you or if you are the leader 😊)
• They look for ways to lift the load
• They don’t cut out until the job is completed
• They don’t stand around and let others work around them
• They speak life and see the glass half full
• They have made themselves so valuable to the team that the team can’t make it without them (that’s a business principle; become so valuable that the boss needs you and will make sure you don’t leave).
• They stay in their lanes. They don’t assert authority that isn’t given to them.
• They lift a hand wherever the need is.
• They give their heart and soul every time.

I hope Part 2 challenges you! Let’s go to the next level!