WHAT ROAD ARE YOU CHOOSING?
The high road. I used to dread that road. Every time I chose it I felt like I had lost the battle just as if I were waving the white flag with my head hanging down. I would come home from work and announce to my husband with a big sigh that once again I had taken the high road. It was oozing with “whoa is me.”
As we grow in our knowledge of leadership founded on the words of God we start to learn that taking the high road; as hard as it is sometimes in our human nature, is just what we are called to do. Kingdom based leadership = High Road Leadership. Taking the high road doesn’t mean we just ignore workplace challenges and that we live in a fantasy that all is perfect. The high road is a conscious effort not to attack, to hold our flaming tongue and to not pay people back for hurting us. It means taking the time to breath, to pray, and to calmly approach situations with a calm head and a loving heart. The right kind of communication can defuse and resolve almost any situation.
How we chose to respond to trials, attacks, and work related complications will say a lot about our relationship with Jesus. We must choose the high road, respond with grace and forgiveness because that is exactly the road Jesus chose when He gave His life for us. We received grace shouldn’t we show grace? Is it easy? Heck, no! That is why we need the power of the Holy Spirit living and working inside of us! When God is in control we don’t have to hang our heads down and feel defeated because we wear the armor of truth, peace, righteousness, and faith.
There is a simple Proverb that packs a big punch. “A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.” (19:11) As Rooted Women we know that staying in our Bibles and dedicating that space in our busy agenda to daily quiet time with our Father is the ultimate foundation of High Road Leadership. It yields wisdom, patience, forgiveness and glory.
I will leave you with a few things I have learned through the years; mostly the hard way and from my own faith journey through mornings of quiet time and reflection.
1. Some people you just can’t change. But we can change ourselves.
2. The 24 Hour Rule. What a great time to read your Bible and pray about the situation! God will give you clarity and words filled with grace!
3. Stay Humble – speak with the other person on how you can work together to resolve the situation. Don’t start a conversation with someone as if you are still the victim.
4. The Golden Rule – that one is simple.
5. Don’t create a high road if it wasn’t needed in the first place. Not everything has to be a big deal.
Heavenly Father, we know our blow up moments do not bring You glory and they only make us feel better temporarily. Lord, we come to You today full of thankfulness that You showed us grace and mercy when You died for us. And that Your love for us is wide, long, high, and deep. Open our hearts and our minds to learn what it truly means to “love them anyway.” Guide us to remember to pause and to have better conversations so that our words and actions bring You glory. As we lead others we pray that You will continue to guide us to the high road each and every time. Amen.
Love from Rooted
Heather and Lisa
