Hard Hearts or Soft Hearts: What does your organization reveal about your heart as a leader?

Something I have been thinking about lately is the difference between a hard heart and a soft heart.

In Scripture, we see that a hard heart is rebellious, judgmental, calloused, independent of God, isolated from deep community (and/or meaningful relationships) and are stubborn to change.

Unfortunately, hard hearts are terrible listeners (unless it is their own voice(s)), are unrepentant, and become close-minded. We see this with the people of God throughout history, Moses; in particular, and the religious elite during Jesus’ time.

Can you and I develop hard hearts?

Absolutely.

It is easy to develop protected and calloused hearts simply because of the experiences we have had as leaders. Disappointment in ministry, hurt from those closest to us, anger or frustration of unmet expectations, and ministerial pain can lead us to hard hearts.

And even more consequently, we begin (if not already have) build hard organizations and/or congregations.

YET,

Soft hearts, as Scripture reveals, are pliable. Soft hearts listen to the Spirit. Soft hearts submit to Scripture. Soft hearts forgive, love others, and are repentant. Soft hearts are able to change and transform into the likeness of Jesus. Soft hearts lead organizations/congregations who reach hard hearts (in Church + culture).

AND…

… this is what Jesus desires our organizations and congregations to look like. Congregations that are MARKED by love, hospitality, and have the agility to adapt in a rapid, post-COVID (yet still very active) world.

YOU SEE… our personal hearts reveal the organizations/congregations we lead. Of course, we all desire to lead with soft hearts; and yet, A-evidence of soft hearts are open-handed organizations.

HOW?

It comes back to the simple “golden-key” (if NOT the only golden-key) in ministry: PRAYER.

PRAYER accesses SPIRIT-leading,

Great followers of Jesus make the BEST leaders. Why? Because God is the BEST leader. The Spirit is ALWAYS leading. AND, IF we are willing to listen and have the courage to obey, God will lead us to His VERY best (even though it requires you and me to change) every time. The challenge is IF we are willing to listen and have the courage to obey…

PRAYER allows GOD to soften our hearts.

Prayer gives us access to repent and experience forgiveness with Jesus, And, therefore forgive others (EVEN organizations and/or congregations).

PRAYER activates FAITH.

Phrases such as, “lets experiment and see where God will take us.”, “Can we try something different to reach/impact/influence our community?”, “What is the Spirit saying to us personally and collectively?” can activate faith. Allowing congregations to change the narrative from, “we tried that and it didn’t work” to “lets experiment” can help create soft, pliable hearts (and therefore organizations/congregation).

PRAYER points us back to God.

In an #infobese culture where there are so many distractions, prayer brings us back to God. Prayer empowers us to trust GOD simply because HE is the ONE who is trustworthy.

So, where is your heart today?

Out of a scale of 1-10 (1 being hard + calloused and 10 being pliable + open to God’s leading), where is your heart today? And does your organization/congregation reflect your heart?