"Are leaders born or made?" That's a question that has perplexed many leaders and thinkers throughout the ages. Some would say "born" because there are definitely some great "natural born leaders" out there. Some would say "made" because it can be modeled and taught. There are many great leaders out there who learned under someone and adapted what they learned to their own leadership. Then there's the "fence riders" that would say, it's really a little of both. Pick a side already! Just kidding, because in reality, LEADERS ARE BOTH BORN AND MADE.
God recently directed my heart to read, study, and meditate on the book of Joshua. Wow, talk about a study in leadership. From an early age Joshua showed an aptitude for leadership. The greatest leadership quality I believe anyone can have is FAITH. Faith in the vision God has given you, faith in your God-given abilities, faith in the people around you, and most importantly, FAITH IN GOD. Faith ushers in God's presence and its God's presence that makes all of the difference in quality leadership and a quality life. Joshua was a great man of faith. When Moses sent out a recon patrol to scout out the promised land, Joshua was only one of two of the twelve man patrol that said, "take the land, God is with us". The other 10 cowered at the sight of the enemy. Joshua apprenticed under Moses for 40 YEARS! Think about that! He sat under one of the greatest leaders in all of human history for 40 years! Joshua was a great warrior, Joshua was a loyal friend, and when it came time to step up and lead God's people no one would have doubted that he was up to the task because he had "leader" written all over him.
Yet it was this verse that hit me hard in my spirit: "The LORD told Joshua, 'Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses.' " -Joshua 3:7 NLT By all accounts, Joshua was a BORN leader. There's a reason he was chosen as the leader to replace Moses. It is God however who MADE him into a great leader. And you see, that's really the key. You can be born a leader, but it's God who makes a leader truly great and effective. God's presence, power, purpose, and passion are what set great leaders apart from the herd. God always sees it first, develops it in the heart of those who are willing, and then He reveals it to the rest of the people. What God already knew about Joshua, the Israelites were about to find out.
Natural, raw leadership ability will only get you so far, it's God's presence and power that take you to heights and places most leaders never see. Joshua went from being a part of a 12-man scout patrol to LEADING OVER 2 MILLION OF GOD'S PEOPLE!!! How was that possible? GOD MADE HIM INTO A GREAT LEADER.
It is GOD who gives a leader his/her credibility, vision, influence, passion, productivity, and impact. IT IS GOD WHO MAKES GREAT LEADERS.
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