BECOME SELF-MOTIVATED. DO NOT EXPECT DIRECTION OR ENCOURAGEMENT FROM OUTSIDE

BECOME SELF- MOTIVATED. DO NOT EXPECT DIRECTION OR ENCOURAGEMENT FROM OUTSIDE. 

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-3

Topic: Seven steps to encouraging yourself.

Today we conclude this series on how you need to become self- motivated and not to expect direction or encouragement from outside which is an art of leadership. Everyone looks up to a leader for encouragement, but who encourages a leader? A true leader is someone who knows how to encourage himself whenever it is necessary. A true leader does not look to the outside for motivation, does not depend on external factors to encourage himself/herself but motivates himself /herself. 

Lets take a look at the last step to encouraging yourself.

7. Avoid depressive and discouraging personalities who only draw you back into the into the darkest gloom. 

Sanballat and Tobiah are examples of terrible discouraging personalities you must avoid. They described Nehemiah's wall as so weak that even a fox would break it! Nehemiah and his workers were intimidated by these unfortunate comments.

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria and said, what do these feeble Jews? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they make an end in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

Nehemiah 4:1-3

You must avoid such people, and especially avoid their words if you want to overcome discouragement. Surround yourself with people who believe you and who will support you in your weak moment! 

Credits: Excerpts from

The Art of Leadership   

Bishop Dag Heward-Mills