THE ART OF EMPOWERMENT

Power is fascinating.  Horsepower, political power, God-power....on the list grows.  Power is a powerful tool for every one of us.

The secret to kingdom power is not the accumulating; but rather the giving.  Power is perfected in weakness is stamped in gold on the front of my Bible.  It tells the truth.  We are never strong because of our strength; only due to our weakness...for when I am weak, then I am strong (II Cor. 12:9-10).

Empowering others is my drive.  I want to see individuals succeed.  Such a process will often require I take a backseat in my leadership role.  In the kingdom we often lead by urging others to be the leaders.  Our role is to give them the nudge that they, too, can be effective because of their inherent weaknesses. 

John Maxwell wrote, Many people neglect to empower others because they are insecure.  They are afraid of losing their jobs to the people they mentor.  They don't want to be replaced or displaced, even if it means that they would be able to move up to a higher position and leave their current one to be filled by the person they mentor.  They're afraid of change.  But change is part of empowerment---for the people you empower and for yourself.  If you want to go up, there are things you have to be willing to give up.

I relate.

When I was nervous about my image, there was a slight competition in my mind toward the other staff partners.  It hurt me to see them be credited when such seemed to say I wasn't enough.  How silly.  Yet, welcome to the reality of the inferior.

The Good News is that The Art of Empowerment is a glorious relief.  For the past six or seven years I probably give myself to mentoring more than any other ministry commitment.  I love, love, love the preaching role.  Yet, the building men and women's confidence is a seven-day-a-week assignment from God that flows from a heart no longer protecting its self-image.  I basically have no image other than silly and foolish weakness.

Everybody knows it.  The best part is that I know it.

The Art of Empowerment is a most delightful arena.  I believe my posts empower you.  I believe in people; especially the insecure, the inferior, and the weak ones.  Why?  Because I want to do for others what patient and gracious others did for me.

The Art of Empowerment is a productive way to live.  Don't cast your frailties aside as if they are in your way.  They are your secret to The Art of Empowerment.  Use them.