When you think of Mary, the mother of Jesus, what is the first image that comes to mind? During Advent, we see beautiful paintings of Mary cradling her newborn son at the manger. During Easter, sculptures remind us of Mary cradling her crucified Savior at the cross. Those images try to capture the love between a mother and son, yet they cannot express the inner strengths that prepared Mary to be the servant leader who would cradle the Expectant Love for the world.

The Holy Night by Correggio – Public Domain (image from Wikimedia)

When God chose Mary, the angel Gabriel was sent to have a conversation with a poor, young teenage girl in a small, backwater town. Mary was the first person God informed about the coming birth of the Messiah. God did not make the announcement to Joseph, to the King, to the High Priest or to any other person. God communicated the plan to the one who would fulfill it–a young woman. God chose Mary specifically and I believe it was partly because of the inner strengths she must have demonstrated or that God knew she would develop.

While there are many images of Mary I love, I want to emphasize three of her inner strengths you can develop as a servant leader.

Servant leaders develop . . .

1. Strength in BEING – “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Mary knew who she was in relation to the God who was asking her to yield her plans, her reputation, and maybe even her life to this new role as the mother of Jesus.

Who is God asking you to BE?

You can choose to become a human being by taking time to develop yourself from the inside out—get to know WHO you are and look only to Jesus for your affirmation. Mary’s example of focusing on who GOD is in her song of praise teaches you how to keep things in perspective. DOING has its time and purpose, but if you never stop the DOING, you’ll never hear the still, small voice that calls you to trust and simply BE.

2. Strength in DOING – “The Mighty One has done great things for me” (Luke 1:49). Her song of praise lists all that God’s power has accomplished and is modeled after Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2 (scroll down to see last week’s post on Hannah). Mary understands that she is not the source of her accomplishments and blessings – God is.

What is God asking you to DO?

While Mary’s song of praise focuses on God’s activity in the lives of people, she was able to sing it as a result of her acceptance of the task God had asked her to DO. Learning to discern what God’s task is for you comes through prayer, fasting, meditation, worship, and scripture study. Those are the prelude for DOING something that will bring God glory. 

3. Strength in GOING – “Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town” (Luke 1:39). That was the first of at least six treks we watch this young woman make just in the first 2 chapters of Luke! When Mary said “yes” to God’s purpose and plan, it included a willingness to GO whenever and wherever God called.

Where is God asking you to GO? 

God never promised you would stay in one place or that you would put down roots that would never be transplanted. God promised to be with you and never forsake you (Heb. 13:5). A servant leader who is yielded completely to God’s service may indeed be asked to change locations–your office, your home, your vocation, your country. And when you GO in joyful obedience, you will discover, “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord” (Luke 1:45).

Which of these three areas is most challenging for you? For me: it’s the BEING. The practice of simply BEING in God’s presence, learning to still my mind and my activity long enough to hear God’s voice requires much more discipline than most other things in my life. Stillness is not valued in our culture. For me, I know where my focus needs to BE this coming year!

Join the conversation below . . .

What are some practices that help you develop your strengths in being, doing, and going as a servant leader?

Coming later in Spring 2017: Laura’s book about the Jesus Model for Ministry will provide more details about these three aspects of servant leadership: being, doing, and going. Watch for it!