Spiritual Wellbeing for Leaders – Make Time for Scripture

When you encounter a challenge as a leader, where do you turn for answers and insights?  This month we examine a second quiet time spiritual discipline that can unlock greater insights for leaders: Scripture.  Author Brian Heasley discusses the need to include scripture reading into our quiet time routine in Session 2 of his five-part Bible study "Be Still: A Simple Guide to Quiet Times.”

There are over 60,000 leadership books available on Amazon.com.  More than a few have graced the New York Times Best-Seller List and many of the authors are well known in professional circles.  Yet, despite the abundance of options already available, every year we are flooded with even more titles, research, and opinions.  It can all seem a little overwhelming when you are looking for answers or just simply want to grow your leadership skills. Who should you listen to, and where do you even begin?

For Christians, the answer is clear.  We should not discount or ignore secular insights on leadership; there is a lot we can learn from those voices.  But as followers of Christ, our values and beliefs, and our leadership philosophy, should first be rooted in the word of God.  As Brian Heasley says, “We need to give the Bible weight in our lives; allow it to challenge, inspire, and shape us and the way we live.”  This is essential in our private lives, but we don’t leave our faith at the office door.  We desperately need the Bible to challenge, inspire, and shape us and the way we lead in our professional lives as well.

Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”  The Bible should be a light to our path as leaders and it should not surprise us that the Bible speaks to the practical needs and personal qualities of those in leadership.  You can find among the multitude of leadership books an ample selection that are based in scripture.  One example is Shepherd Leadership, co-authored by Baylor’s own Dr. Blaine McCormick and based on insights from Psalm 23.  It is essential to remember, though, that as we read about what the Bible says, we don’t neglect reading the Bible itself. 

In her 2018 book, Dare to Lead, popular author and researcher Brene Brown tells us, “Self-awareness and self-love matter.  Who we are is how we lead.”  Remember, having a “spiritual time out,” or quiet time, is a type of self-care and it is a great way to build spiritual wellbeing into our busy schedules.  It is also a great time to build a habit of daily scripture reading.  Heasley says, “Bible reading is one of the fundamental pillars of quiet time.”  As we read the Bible, it will shape and mold who we are, it will influence our ideas and actions, and it will help us become the leaders our teams need and deserve. 

Learn more about incorporating the Bible into your quiet time in Heasley’s second lesson called  "Scripture" on RightNowMedia@Work. If you do not have access to RightNowMedia@Work to view the  "Be Still: A Simple Guide to Quiet Times” series, Baylor provides free access to all faculty and staff at: https://app.rightnowmedia.org/join/BaylorUHumanResources.

After viewing session 2, consider reading one Bible chapter a day for one week as part of your quiet time routine.

Additional resources: 

• Brown, Brene. Dare to Lead. (New York: Random House, 2018).
• Maxwell, John C. 21 Leadership Issues in the Bible: Life-Changing Lessons from Leaders in Scripture. New York: HarperChristian Resources: 2019).
• McCormick, Blaine and Davenport, David. Shepherd Leadership. (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003).
• BertterUp.com lists their 29 Best leadership books
• Summary.com compiled their own list of The 25 Best Leadership Books of All-Time
• Baylor recognizes the value of “be still” in our lives and has implemented Spiritual Wellbeing Leave for all eligible staff.