By Garrett Lowe, Vice President of Personnel, BCM International
Leaders, my pastor taught something recently that I knew I needed to share. He gave several encouragements to guard our mental, spiritual, and physical health. It couldn’t have come at a better time for me.
It wasn’t complicated. It wasn’t new. But it was exactly the kind of wisdom leaders need to return to again and again, especially because leaders are often targets for the enemy.
Whether you lead a family, a ministry, or a team at work, here are seven anchors for the soul of a leader.
#1. Spend Extended Time Alone with God
Scripture, silence, and solitude aren’t luxuries – they’re lifelines.
Meditate on God’s Word. Think: “Lord, what is your invitation to my heart through this passage?”
Practice contemplative prayer: honestly pour out your needs, invite the Holy Spirit to search your heart, and listen for His direction.
When God speaks, write it down: a written word becomes a remembered word.
#2. Express Gratefulness Every Day
Start and end your day with gratitude. It re-calibrates your heart.
“A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Prov. 17:22). Gratitude isn’t a mood; it’s a discipline. What you thank God for today becomes the foundation of your joy tomorrow.
#3. Rest in God’s Love for You
Nothing will transform you like a deep understanding of God’s love. Your worth isn’t tied to performance or pleasing people. “He rescued me because He delighted in me” (Psalm 18:19). You are incredibly loved – on your best day and your worst.
#4. Put Limits on Your Time and Energy
Boundaries are not selfish…they’re spiritual. Henry Cloud says, “The most productive leaders engage fully and then disengage fully.” You can’t run at full speed endlessly. Sabbath, rest, and rhythms are how we trust God with our work and weaknesses.
#5. Be Fully Known by Someone
Shame grows in the dark; it lifts when we bring it into the light. Most leaders struggle with shame because we know the standard and see how often we fall short.
Find a safe person who knows the real you, failures, flaws, and all, and still loves you. That kind of grace reflects Christ Himself.
#6. Surrender Everyone and Everything to God
The stress you carry isn’t always from the workload, but from holding it alone. Jesus invites: “Come to me… and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). It’s His Church, His Kingdom, His work. Our calling is obedience; the results belong to Him.
#7. Keep the Work About Jesus, Not About You
It’s tempting to make ministry or leadership about you, your success, your reputation, your name. But it’s always been about Jesus. Lead and minister in the power of the Holy Spirit. Then step aside and trust the results to Him.
Originally sent to Cornerstone Coffee Break’s email subscribers.
