Welcome to Three-Peat Tuesday!
Each weekly blog will contain three P’s: Pillar, Principle and Practical, all geared towards nourishing you on your personal and spiritual growth journey.
Pillar: Readers become Leaders
“The leader who intends to grow spiritually and intellectually will be reading constantly.”-J. Oswald Sanders, author
Principle: A Hunger for Reading
When I was a teenager, my mother challenged me to read more. I dismissed her advice. I had to re-think that whole scenario when I did worse in English than I did in French and Spanish during my pre-university exams as an 18-year-old.
I couldn’t see it then, but mom was trying to teach me the value of consuming books, educating myself and being a habitual learner. It took me getting some ordinary grades in school to start waking up, but I believe my eyes are more open now.
When the psalmist prayed: “Open my eyes so that I may see wonderful things in Your law” (Psalm 119:18), he was on to something profound. He figured that with divine direction, he could discover treasure, wonder and joy when reading.
Although the original context of the psalm was dealing with the Torah, there’s a powerful principle in there. If you spend the time and dig deep enough, a book can do wonders for your heart, mind and soul.
Have you taken the opportunity during the pandemic to pick up an extra book or even to finish one that you started a while ago? Are you really that busy or have you given in to a bit of complacency?
The resources are myriad. Within the family of churches where I fellowship, I’m grateful for publishers like IPI (www.ipibooks.com) who offer a steady supply of faith-building books. One of my mentors, Douglas Jacoby, regularly sends out a list of over 1000 books (www.douglasjacoby.com) from which to choose.
Without realizing or even pursuing it, many readers end up becoming leaders. It just keeps happening.
Practical: Read it Again
Find one of the books that has impacted you the most and read it again…slowly.
If you were inspired by this blog, please consider sharing it with one other person today. To learn more about these and other related themes that promote the cultivation of an integrated inner self, read UNBEATABLE! which is now available on Amazon in print and as an e-book.
This Post Has 6 Comments
How so true this is! Knowledge as they say is power. As a teacher, I cannot agree more. The readers in my class are clearly the leaders. Personally, I have to admit that I have become complacent. I have about 7 books on my bedside table all half finished. Thanks for the encouragement to finish or to read over what I may have read before, this time…..slowly. I appreciate that.
You’re welcome Ronke. Your calling as a teacher is so special as you get to raise up future leaders. Keep up the good work!
I never thought of that! Readers become leaders, and I can see why. I am convicted by that statement. I was an active reader in my teenage years however that has changed drastically. I have lots of books to start and finish. I will challenge myself.
That’s a great commitment you’ve made Nicole. Best wishes!
Reading was never my passion but has slowly become one of something. So much more I could have grasped and accomplished in my life. Thank you.
You’re welcome, Michelle. The cool thing about reading is that it’s never too late to become habitual.