He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. – Psalm 144:2
Having followers is the demonstration that there is some kind of leadership. John Maxwell once said, “If you think you’re a leader and you don’t have anyone following you, you’re just taking a walk.” It is important to ask, where does the intention of people to want to follow and actually follow someone come from? Why not set your own course?
Many leaders think that people follow them for their persuasive abilities, charisma, achievements, offers, fame, among other qualities or attributes; however, in the realm of spiritual leadership, it is important to discover that it is God who makes people want to follow, follow, and keep following a particular leader.
King David once recognized that God is “… who subdues peoples under me” (Psalm 144:2 NIV). He was especially able to experience this when he took office as the new king of Israel. The 12th chapter of 1 Chronicles is an interesting description of how the people put themselves under his command, joined his cause, and recognized him as the leader appointed by God. Up to that point, David had shown loyalty to the previous king, trust in God, and determination to fulfill his life’s mission, but he did not yet have the company of key people to come alongside him in his endeavors (especially an army). However, God took it upon Himself to mobilize key people from all spheres of the Israelite society to David, to place themselves at his command, to align themselves with his cause; Verse 22 says that “… Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God.” (1 Chronicles 12:22 NIV). David was then able to experience the miracle of leadership, which is God assembling a team of followers or collaborators of heavenly stature to those faithful leaders to whom He has given a task.
Think and pray
It’s good to improve your leadership technique, but it’s God who really makes you have followers.
Heavenly Father, help me to be a good steward of the influence that You give me with people for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Dr. Jesus A. Sampedro is an Associate Professor and Program Director of the Master of Arts (MA) in Leadership program at Mid-America Christian University Developing leaders has been his longtime passion since 1999, he has served on various boards, including CBMC International (AEEC) Executive Chamber, Founding Member of the Business and Theology Council of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), and is currently on the board of the International Coach Federation- ICF (AR-OK Chapter).