3 Things to Stop Doing that Will Make You a Better Leader by Amber Picota

By Amber Picota
Comparison is a trap. You were created uniquely. The world needs your flavor of leadership. We don't need one more TD Jakes. We already have one, and he's killing it. We need a you. You carry something unique. The world is waiting on you to release what God has packed on the inside of you, whether that be your sermons, your books, your art, or some other kind of ability that God gifted you with. I want to share with you a little story.
 
 
 
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1. Comparing Yourself to Other Leaders.
 
Comparison is a trap. You were created uniquely. The world needs your flavor of leadership. We don't need one more TD Jakes. We already have one, and he's killing it. We need a you.
 
You carry something unique. The world is waiting on you to release what God has packed on the inside of you, whether that be your sermons, your books, your art, or some other kind of ability that God gifted you with.
 
I want to share with you a little story.
 
When I first knew God had called me into ministry, I assumed I had to be like Joyce Meyer, or Beth Moore. I had it in my head that if I wanted to be a great woman preacher, I needed to be like another great woman preacher. Sure, it might sound silly to us here and now, but it was my reality at the time. I believed this.
 
God spoke this to me one day, "There are people waiting on you to release the truth that YOU carry"
 
Have you ever been reading a book, or listening to a sermon, and they explain a portion of scripture that you've read 146 times, but for some reason the way they explained it this one time caused a light bulb moment for you?! It's exciting, right?!
 
Well there are truths that God has revealed to you that someone somewhere is only gonna "GET," the way you can explain it.
 
That's why you have to be you. Souls could be at stake! People's freedom could be at stake! You've got to be you.
 
There is a move of God inside of you, and there's a reason why God chose YOU for this. Your His woman/man for the job. Don't waste your time, and weaken this movement trying to be someone else.
 
2. Self-depreciating Thinking.
 
"I'm a scumbag."
"I'm a terrible sinner."
"I'm ugly."
"I'm fat."
"I'm never going to make it."
 
These are all lies from the pit of hell, but when you believe them, in many ways they become your truth. What you decide to agree with, you give power to. The enemy is called the "father of lies," and Jesus has stripped the enemy from power and authority over you. A really awful thing happens, however when you begin to agree with the enemy. When you agree with the enemy's lies, you begin to empower those lies.
 
And once a lie is empowered, it can squeeze it's ugly little self into your existing reality.
 
How do you squash out a lie? With the truth.
 
If this is an area of interest to you then you may want to buy my book, God's Feminist Movement, which discusses self worth. There's a whole chapter on it.
 
So if you are plagued by self-depreciating thinking, or self-hatred I want you to search God's word for TRUTH that God has spoken over you. Here, I'll help you get started:
 
Declarations Inspired by Scripture
  • God has never failed to provide for me and He never will (Phil 4:19).
  • I don't have to worry. God takes care of creation (Matthew 6:25-34).
  • Nothing can separate me from God's love (Romans 8:38-39)
  • I am saved by my faith in Jesus, not by struggling and striving (Ephesians 2:8-9)
  • God carefully created me uniquely and wonderfully, in His image (Psalm 139:13-14)
  • I have authority and power over darkness because of Jesus (Colossians 1:13, Luke 10:19).
Next I want you to ask God what He thinks about you. Allow Holy Spirit to whisper the truths that Father God believes about you. Write them down. Speak them out over yourself. Believe them. Align yourself with the truth.
 
3. Refusing to Partner with Preparation.
 
This one's a biggie. We want to do great things, right? I know you want to write an award winning book. I know you want to preach that sermon that ignites hope and joy within thousands. I know you want to nail it on TV and totally blow people away with the revelation and freedom that God has given you.
 
But there are things you need to do to grow yourself if you want to get this message out there. Depending on what it is you are called to do, you're going to need training. Maybe you attend formal training such as a college/university…. Maybe you apply for an apprenticeship… Maybe you find a mentor… read books, online course, Youtube videos.
 
One thing I know is that anyone who wants to learn, can be taught. No matter what God has called you to do, you will have to go through a season of preparation before you can be released into what He's called you to do. Sure, sometimes there is some "on the job training" and "school of hard-knocks." Some things are only learned the hard way.
 
But many times I see people running up against the same wall over and over again because they refuse to admit that they don't know everything and they refuse to acknowledge that they need to learn.
 
Stop It
 
Seriously, stop doing these things. They are holding you back. Don't resist preparation anymore. You need to grow, and in order to do that you will need to reject pride. Stop allowing yourself to meditate on self-depreciating lies that the enemy is feeding you. Renew your mind by replacing those lies with the truth. Stop trying to be other leaders, and stop comparing yourself to other leaders. This is always going to bring you down. It's never going to make you better.
 
Ok?
 
Stop it. I mean it. And I say this for your good.
 
But what if you choose to stop it and then two weeks later you find yourself doing one of these three things again? Don't STRESS over it, just STOP again. Bad habits aren't replaced with good habits overnight, but you are a powerful person and you have the ability to do this. If you get intentional about this NOW, I can only imagine where you're going to be in a year.
 
YOU'VE GOT THIS.
 
Amber Picota
 

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