WEEK 4: GUARDING YOUR SOUL & GROWING YOUR INFLUENCE
Here we are — Week 4.
Today, we’re going to be talking about what might be the most overlooked — but most important — part of leading at this level:
Guarding your soul, and growing your influence.
SECTION 1: YOU ARE YOUR FIRST ASSIGNMENT
Leadership always demands more from you than it gives back.
There’s always more to do. More people to respond to. More meetings, needs, tasks, texts.
But here’s the truth:
You are your first assignment.
Not your team.
Not your outcomes.
Not your events.
You.
Proverbs 4:23 says:
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Senior leadership, if left unguarded, will eat your soul alive.
Busyness will wear down your intimacy.
Success will outpace your integrity.
Stress will replace joy.
This isn’t weakness. This is reality. And if we’re honest, we’ve all felt it.
So, the question isn’t whether pressure comes — it’s whether your life has space for God when it does.
SECTION 2: SPIRITUAL RHYTHMS FOR RESILIENCE
You don’t drift into health. You choose it.
So let me ask:
What are your spiritual rhythms right now?
Not your ministry habits. Not your prep for team nights.
I’m talking about your actual walk with God.
Do you rest before you crash?
Do you pray because you want to, or because you're desperate?
Are you hearing God’s voice for you, or only for others?
Jesus — the Son of God — constantly withdrew to lonely places to pray.
Not because He was weak, but because He was wise.
If Jesus needed solitude, rest, silence, prayer…
Then what makes us think we can lead strong without them?
Here are a few questions to test your rhythms:
What feeds your soul consistently?
When was the last time you Sabbath-ed properly — no work, no guilt, just worship and rest?
Who challenges you spiritually?
When did you last enjoy God, not just serve Him?
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” — Isaiah 30:15
You cannot separate soul health from leadership fruitfulness.
One fuels the other. Always.
SECTION 3: THE DARK SIDE OF INFLUENCE
Now let’s talk about influence.
As you grow in visibility, responsibility, and authority…
Influence increases.
But so does temptation.
So does pressure.
So does scrutiny.
And if you’re not grounded… it can start to warp your heart.
You start to lead for approval, instead of from identity.
You start managing people, not pastoring them.
You avoid hard truths, because you want to be liked.
Or you start believing the hype — that you’re the exception, the centre, the hero.
Let me be clear: influence isn’t evil.
But unchecked influence becomes dangerous — to you, and to the church.
“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” — Mark 8:36
We’ve seen it before — leaders who rise fast and fall hard.
Talent got them there.
But soul neglect brought them down.
That won’t be us.
At Glow, we’re not building celebrity leaders — we’re building whole, healthy, humble ones.
So here’s the call:
Grow your influence. But don’t lose your soul doing it.
SECTION 4: MULTIPLYING YOUR IMPACT THROUGH OTHERS
Let’s finish here.
Senior leadership isn’t just about how much you carry.
It’s about how many people you raise.
And that only happens when your soul is healthy enough to let go of control, and trust others.
“The things you’ve heard me say… entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” — 2 Timothy 2:2
That’s generational leadership.
If you’re trying to do everything yourself, eventually you will become the lid to the very thing God’s asked you to grow.
So ask yourself:
Who are you investing in right now?
Who are you letting lead, even if they’re not perfect?
Who’s watching your life up close?
It’s not about being polished.
It’s about being authentic enough that others can follow your example — not just your instructions.
You don’t just grow influence by doing more.
You grow it by releasing others to run.
And that starts with leading from a soul that’s secure, healthy, and open.
CLOSING –
So as we wrap this course, I want to leave you with this question:
What’s one thing right now that’s feeding your soul — and one thing that’s draining it?
Be honest.
Write it down.
Bring it to your check-in.
Let’s not just pretend we’re fine — let’s build a culture of real, resilient leadership.
Thank you for showing up to this journey.
Thank you for carrying what you carry.
And thank you for guarding what matters most.
You are leading at a high level — but you are still a follower of Jesus first.
Let’s lead like it.
