John Stanko

"You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life. Lord, you have seen the wrong done to me. Uphold my cause! You have seen the depth of their vengeance, all their plots against me" - Lamentations 3:58-60.

In this passage, the prophet Jeremiah was pleading his case to the Lord because of how his contemporaries had treated him. He was leading Judah as their prophet, but the people would not listen to him, even persecuting him for telling them the truth. It is only a matter of time before leaders encounter enemies, who for various reasons—jealousy, ambition, ignorance, or greed, just to name a few—oppose, criticize, undermine, or even rebel against their leadership decisions or position. When this happens, godly leaders must learn to look to God for help and wisdom and not seek revenge, give in to bitterness, or carry a grudge.

LEADERSHIP STEP: Today's Step is to prepare for the day when your enemies come after you, just like they did Jeremiah and Jesus. First, don't be surprised when it happens—it is part of man's fallen nature to rebel and be ambitious and self-centered. Second, don't be naive, for it may be someone close to you. Third, be open  that God may use your enemies to reposition you or teach you more about trusting Him. Finally, be prepared to use prayer as your primary means of defense.