10 attributes of a GREAT LEADER'S heart!

So his armor bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.” (1 Samuel 14.7)

This is an account of a leader with six hundred men following him on a surprise attack mission to defeat an enemy with an exponentially greater number of men! What trait, what training, what kind of mind control did this leader exhibit that would cause those men to have courage to follow him on what seems to be a suicide mission? 

He had a godly leader's... HEART! From my vantage point, those are rare these days. We don't see many valiant attempts to move followers on great campaigns for God at great risk! My suspicion would be that there is no lack of missions for God. But a lack of great leaders that cause those around them to march and charge against a strong enemy with the right heart in order to advance the Kingdom of God!

I have seen some great leaders with such hearts and they have many of the same characteristics. Here are just a few...

1. They never move until they have definitively heard from God to go.
2. They unconditionally love those that follow, and the followers know it!
3. They live a lifestyle of personal faith that inspires others.
4. They look for opportunities to bring others along on the journey.
5. They always speak words of life, hope & victory to those around them.
6. They greatly honor other leaders and listen to their counsel.
7. They walk humbly with their God, never looking to take the credit.
8. They intentionally create an environment of trust, honor & fun!
9. They demonstrate a true spiritual balance of ministry & family.
10. They never allow "naysayers" to steal a vision or harm a follower!

Remember, great leaders have great hearts! If you look around you and see that people are ready to follow you to the very gates of hell, at risk of life and limb, it's not you, it's your heart. 

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Proverbs 4.23)