Begin Leading by Loving

“A good leader motivates, doesn't mislead, doesn't exploit.” Proverbs 16:10 (The Message)  

If you desire to influence another person, the way to start is by nurturing them. What clergyman John Knox said over four hundred years ago is still true: "You cannot antagonize and influence at the same time."

At the heart of the nurturing process is genuine concern for others. And as we try to help and influence the people around us, we must have positive feelings and concern for them. If you want to help people and make a positive impact on them, you cannot dislike or disparage them. You must give love to them and give them respect.

You may be wondering why you should take on a nurturing role with the people you want to influence, especially if they are employees, colleagues, or friends. You may be saying to yourself, "Isn't that something they can get somewhere else, like at home?" The unfortunate truth is that most people are desperate for encouragement. If you become a major nurturer in the life of another person, then you have an opportunity to make a major impact on them.

Excerpt from Becoming a Person of Influence
- A daily devotional by John C. Maxwell

The world is full of difficult people. 

People with an attitude,

People with smelly face, 

Nobody likes to deal with people like that. 

But at times, we have to ask ourselves "Are we that difficult person in the eyes of another?"

If we are, it's probably time to relent and reflect upon ourselves. 

For this, there's only one self-advice:

to lower ourselves.

HUMILITY

As for handling difficult people, 

Lord, I ask for more love. 

Help me to love, help me to not take things personally, to not wall up my emotions, allow me to learn to be vulnerable, learn to hurt and then to surrender to God. 

Emotions are there for a reason. 

People hurt us, we feel hurt. 

That is a part of life. 

Don't shy away from it. 

Feel it. 

You will feel it if you truly care. 

But learn to surrender and walk out of it stronger than before, 

with more love than before, 

with more grace than before. 

Lord, I pray for a heart like yours. 

Soft enough to care, 

Big enough to forgive, 

Sturdy enough to recover, 

Loving enough to keep trying, 
Mature enough to surrender.

In Jesus' Name I pray, 

Amen.