37 of 52 Voices September 25, 2014

The C3 Leaders devotion is a peer weekly reflection from business leaders related to their journey with Christ. Each weekly devotion will be written by a different author from among the C3 Leaders community.

As we go through this next year together, we pray that these words and reflections will encourage you in your relationship with Jesus Christ.

By Paul Perez, PCC, CPDC – The Breakthrough Coach at Accelerated Breakthrough Coaching

“… fixing our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…”

A few weeks ago, Les Parrott wrote a devotion about attitude, presenting an analogy with which I am intimately familiar. Having flown for the U. S. Navy, I completely understood and agreed with his analogy. Attitude is not just a mental disposition, but also even more practically, an orientation. It has everything to do with what we’re focused on – simplistically, where our noses are pointed. In fact, many a mishap report I’ve read over the years outlined, “Mishap occurred because aircraft was in an unrecoverable attitude.” While Les’ piece focused on marriage, I think that we could also say the same thing about leadership… and closer to home, Kingdom leadership.

John Maxwell coined the phrase that “Leadership is influence. Nothing more. Nothing less.”  It begs the question: what’s influencing the leader? We’ve all heard, “To be a good leader, you have to be a good follower.” If that’s the case, whom am I following? In today’s fast-paced world, there are so many distractions competing for my mental, emotional, physical and spiritual allegiance. What these distractions are really vying for are my affections… my attention… my energy.

Remember the fellowship meeting at Mary and Martha’s in Luke 10? Remember Jesus’ gentle rebuke of Martha about focusing on what really matters?

The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her. – Luke 10: 41-42 (The Message)

Daily, I think my biggest challenge as a Spirit-led leader is actually being led by the Holy Spirit. I find that the only way that’s possible is if I’ve cultivated the habit of fixing my eyes on Jesus, running as fast as I can towards Him and sticking as close as possible. And God is faithful. When I’m not able to stick close to Him, He lovingly adheres Himself to me.

On the backdrop of eternity, I’ve found that the most significant litmus test of all my intentions and energy expenditures is this: Did I “focus on Forever?”

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. ~ 2 Corinthians 3:18

~Paul

PaulPerez@comcast.net