1 Peter 5:1-4 (NLT)
And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.

Dear God, I’m not an elder in the church, but I am a leader of an organization and a person who is involved in a lot of aspects in our community. The question for me, I think, is, what are you calling me to do to care about the people around me? How should I care for the flock entrusted to me? How do I do it with humble love?

If I were to make a list of the needs in our community that are on my radar it would get out of control quickly. Just off of the top of my head:

• Early childhood intervention for children in poverty
• Human sex trafficking
• Drugs and substances like vaping in the schools
• Social worker for the school to help with situation-by-situation interventions
• Domestic violence
• Men’s Bible study for those economically disadvantaged

A couple of those tangentially touch my vocation, but none of them would be part of our organization’s mission statement. Any involvement in them would be absolutely extra work for me. Thankfully, you partnered me with others who have been able to take up the domestic violence issue and there is now a group taking that and running with it without me. And I know there is a nonprofit along with churches in town who are looking at childcare–perhaps not real intervention for traumatized children, but it’s a start. In fact, most of these things have others who care about these issues besides me. I think what I need to do is figure out at what level you want me to be involved in each one through prayer to you and the Holy Spirit’s leadership.

Then there is the leadership I need to provide to my own family. What does my wife need from me? What do my children need? There has been one thought that came to me a week ago regarding one of my adult children, and I still feel like I need a lot of wisdom from you before I know what to do about it. But I know that, whatever you call me to do, you want me to do it through gentle love and not by lording it over them.

Father, help me to know how to lead, and also help me to know how to follow and be an easy person for others in authority over me to lead. Help me to not grumble, but to find ways to finish the race and complete the tasks you have given to me.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen