(2 Peter 1:5-8, ESV) For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The 7 areas where we must lead ourselves well:
- Spiritually (Virtue): Nurture your first love for Jesus. Always. He is supreme and we cannot lead others spiritually until we lead ourselves well in this area first.
- Intellectually (Knowledge): Learn to think God's thoughts. Memorize and meditate on scripture. We must habitually learn to teach ourselves God's word and be constantly growing in our knowledge of scripture.
- Volitionally (Self-control): Willfully praise God in and for all things Psalm 50:23.
- Emotionally (Endurance): Don't follow your heart, lead it! Psalm 143:8 Learn to lift your soul to God...learn to journal daily.
- Physically (Godliness): live the truth that your body does not belong to you 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Drink more water and get good sleep!
- Financially (Brotherly Kindness): I am a caretaker of that which God has given me! Ask this question before deciding to purchase anything "Will buying this make me more effective for God?"
- Socially (Love): Discern and reject where there might be fear of man in your life. Fear only God. Galatians 1:10.
I hope you find these helpful and encouraging to you in your life and ministry. I find it an excellent reminder to make sure that I am leading myself well in these areas which 2 Peter 1:5-8 talks about.
