Bravery in Spirit Led Leadership

Lion attacking a snake

Bravery is a command from God. That’s not a topic or quality that we often think about. But it’s true. Here are four points of bravery that every Christian who aspires to be a Spirit-led leader must adhere to.

1. God has given us the ability to overcome fear, which is called being brave.

Being brave is taking action despite fear.

Bravery is not grounded in our ability, skill, or courage. Courage does not come from within us; it comes from the Holy Spirit working and moving through us.

• Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success[a] wherever you go.- Joshua 1:7-8

  Success formula. Bravery + Obey the Word = Success

  2. Choose Bravery

• Many of us are willing to settle for the good. Your life is good. Your job is good. Your kids are good. Your church is good. Your existence is good. Existing is good. The problem is a gulf between where you are and who you want to be. You are not seeing the results; you have a mindset gap between scarcity and abundance. You need to come face to face with your bravery and decide to change.

  3. Bravery to Take the Labels Off

  Don’t conform to the corruption of this world’s standards, but instead, renew your mind by replacing labels with truth. Part of being a victim is accepting the labels of man that have been put on you. You might have been told by a parent, teacher, or coach that you were “stupid, ugly, slow, worthless, will never amount to anything,” how about “can’t you be more like your sibling?” etc.

  It is time to take those labels off, reject the lie, and put on the labels of the truth of God’s Word. “More than a conqueror. I have the hope of glory in me. I have the mind of Christ. I lack no good thing. I can do all things through Christ.” 

  4. Bravery Means Responsibility

  A common phrase that people say when they don’t want to take the burden of responsibility for growth or change is “Fake it till you make it.” Don’t fake it till you make it; get better, and you’ll make it. The choice you make makes you. Responsibility isn’t easy, fun, or glamorous, but it is necessary.

  As you accept responsibility in your life, it gives you more and more power. Responsibility will give you the power to change your life from where you are and help guide you to where you want to be. A natural leader doesn’t pass responsibility but accepts it and then makes it work for them.

• If you enjoyed this teaching, check out Butterfly Leadership, available at www.imprintinternational.com

Why Valentines Day?

Valentine in the dungeon

The True Meaning of Valentine’s Day

Why do we celebrate Valentine’s Day? Is it just about writing cute cards, buying chocolates, or taking our significant other out for an expensive dinner? While Valentine’s Day focuses on romantic love, its origins run much deeper. At its core, it is rooted in the love of God and the courage to stand for what is right.

In the third century, during the Roman Empire, Emperor Claudius II decreed that young men should not marry. He believed that soldiers would be more focused and loyal if they were not distracted by wives and families. To enforce this, he forbade marriage among men of fighting age.

However, a priest named Valentine saw things differently. Believing that marriage was a sacred gift from God, he secretly performed weddings despite the emperor’s orders. Eventually, he was discovered, arrested, and sentenced to prison.

Even in prison, Valentine’s faith in God remained unshaken. He befriended his jailer and even tutored the jailer’s young daughter in reading and writing. His kindness and love reflected the teachings of Christ, showing that true love reaches even beyond barriers of enmity. We should love our neighbore as we love ourselves. According to tradition, he signed his notes to the young girl, “From your Valentine.” This is believed to be the origin of the practice of exchanging Valentine’s cards.

John 13:34-35 (NKJV)

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The emperor eventually gave Valentine a choice: renounce his Christian faith and worship the Roman pagan gods, or face execution. Valentine chose to stand firm in his faith, refusing to deny Christ—even at the cost of his life.

The Moral of the Story

True Christian leaders:

• Stand up for what is right, even when the government says otherwise.

• Share the love of Christ with everyone—even their enemies.

• Remain faithful to Christ, no matter the cost.

Valentine’s Day is more than just a celebration of romance. It is a reminder of sacrificial love, unwavering faith, and the courage to stand for truth.

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The Fear of The Lord

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

-Proverbs 9:10NKJV

The fear of the Lord. What is that? What does that mean? How do we do that appropriately? Are we to fear God? Isn’t that thought contradictory? Is not God love? The Bible describes the goodness, faithfulness, and mercy of God, which does not sound like someone to fear. The Bible even shares that perfect love casts out all fear. Fear, after all, is a tool of the devil, a byproduct of sin. It’s understood that the sinner ought to have a genuine fear of God, who can destroy more than your life by casting you in the fire of hell, again the byproduct of a life of sin. But what of the believer, the one who places their ultimate faith in the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ? Should this person fear God?

Christians should not fear God, for Jesus identified God as our Father. Jesus even helps us to understand that only God is good and that we can have a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. This is not the fear of an abusive Father, but it is an awesome reverence and respect. God is not your “bro,” your “homeboy,” your “girlfriend,” etc. God is our Father and, as such, deserves our utmost respect and worship. We are to love and serve God. In simple forms, the fear of the Lord equals obedience. When you obey God, you fear God. When you want to sin and even feel tempted to sin, but you obey God in the face of that sin, that is fearing God. When you obey but you don’t feel like it, that is fearing God. Jesus demonstrated fear of the Lord by denying sin and obeying God.

Real Spirit-Led Leadership is obedience to God. Spirit-led leadership stands up for God for what is right, even in the face of adversity and times of discomfort for us. Leadership is standing for truth, integrity, excellence, and showing the way. Leaders must have a genuine fear of the Lord. Which is, as promised in the scripture above, the beginning of Wisdom. God will grant wisdom when we respect and honor Him. God gives favor to those who demonstrate Honor to Him. As leaders, we need wisdom to make the right choices to have a vision and to move forward. That discernment, that wisdom is found in valuing and obeying God. The primary way to do this is to learn to trust in the forgiveness of Jesus Christ and to learn to be led by the unction of the Holy Spirit.

Are you ready to Lead by fearing God today?

You Are Well Able

Able despite the storm

Luke 8:22–25- One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. 24 And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

This story is beloved by many Christians as it illustrates Jesus’s power over nature and His ability to bring peace to any situation. We all need the presence, power, and peace of Jesus in our lives. With a singular bold act of faith, Jesus transforms the situation, confronting fear and silencing the storm. He can do the same in your life. The Word of Faith is the lever that moves mountains and calms the seas.

But there is another powerful lesson here. Jesus’s ability to fall asleep and remain at peace during the storm reveals His confidence in His disciples. He believed they were capable of handling the situation. This is further emphasized when He rebukes them for their lack of faith, challenging them to act on what they had already seen and learned. They had been empowered, having witnessed countless miracles, and they were equipped to face the storm. The disciples had what it took to overcome fear and rise to the challenge, just as we do when we trust in Him.

Spirit-led leadership is about empowering others to take action and make a difference. It’s about equipping and inspiring others to transform the world around them. True leadership points the way and provides the guidance necessary for others to step into positions of influence with confidence.

This process begins with delegation but ultimately leads to your pupil or disciple being fully capable of stepping into your role. Effective leaders ensure that those they mentor feel confident and prepared to handle the responsibilities before them, enabling them to thrive and succeed.