Over the last twelve months I have read a number of books by a pastor of a past generation A.W. Tozer. As I have become acquainted with his writings I am amazed at how true they are for us in 2008, even though most were written in the 40’s and 50’s. The latest book that I am about to finish is a collection of articles that Tozer wrote for Alliance Life magazine between the years 1950-63.

Near the end of the collection one of the articles is “Our Fruit Will Be What We Are.” This brief article starts with these words: “Water cannot rise above its own level. Neither can a Christian by any sudden spasmodic effort rise above the level of his own spiritual life.”

One of the leadership behaviors that I desire to model is that I am one who seeks God for guidance for all my acts as a leader. I recognize that it can become easy to rely on the talents I have, but I also realize that these talents come from God and when I seek Him they become more effective. Seeking God is not just so that I can become a better leader but so that I can know God, His attributes and then reflect them in all aspects of my life.

In Exodus 34 we find the account where Moses “went in before the LORD to speak with Him…And he came out, and spoke to the children of Israel.” I need to be that example that every time I go before the people I lead, I have already gone before the Lord. Seeking God should not be an option for a leader.

Jeremiah 9:23-24

This is what the LORD says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom,

or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches.

²⁴ But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things.

I, the LORD, have spoken!