Blog Posts by Courtney McBath

If you are a parent—or really, anyone, because we’ve all been children—you’ve probably said or heard things like, “If you want to do this, you’re going to have to be more responsible. If you want a car, you have to prove you can be responsible with it. If you want those sneakers, you must show me you can take care of your possessions.”

The truth is that we really don’t know what’s best for us all the time. We may pray, “God, I want this right now.” And God may release it to us just to let us experience what a blessing given prematurely feels like. On the other hand, if He sees we’re not ready, He may withhold it. Anyone who’s lived for just a little while knows to thank God for withholding what we cannot handle—that withholding is an act of love. If God steps into your situation and performs a miracle, often, in order for the miracle to fulfill what it was sent to do, you must respond. The miracle...

When our journey in friendship with God seems to lead us to prison, we have to process our way through a storm of emotions. “What happened?” we want to know. There we were—we made ourselves vulnerable to God. We committed to being His friend. We opened our hearts to Him. We asked Him to help us learn to love Him better. We were doing our part, cultivating that first Next Level heart attitude—a heart for His friendship and leadership style— now, suddenly, we find ourselves alone, arrested, thrown into a cell, locked down in chains, and slapped with a trial date. We don’t see our prison as a “springboard for spectacular beginnings.” We wonder if we will ever fulfill the dreams and plans in our hearts.

When I was 13 years old, I found myself in this very position. There I was, walking in friendship with God—getting to know Him, even involved in ministry and leading others to Christ at a young age—when suddenly, the life I had...

Every leader leads by inspiring others to follow. We cannot inspire others if we are not inspired ourselves. My friendship with God and other people helps to keep me constantly inspired and ready to live a life that fuels the fire of purpose in others. Never underestimate the power of daily inspiration that comes through prayer, mentorship, and surrendering to God’s mission for your life.

Inspiration in leadership is a necessity. Leaders can and must empower others to develop a passion for their work and how they accomplish it regardless of their role in the team. To achieve this, you have to invest in yourself so you can invest in developing the talent of those around you and help them reach their full potential. Your behavior should also inspire and push others to give and do more. Demonstrating your commitment to their work and values by asking questions, actively participating in work, showing positivity, and remaining calm even in the midst of raging storms will inspire...

Leaders need their own sense of right and wrong and the stabilization produced by their own moral compass. Our decisions can’t be made based upon public opinion or even the convictions of others. Leaders are tasked with helping people find their way and as guides, we must know our way. The leader has and will not reach perfection but must know his/her way well enough to correct their path when they drift. Leaders can’t guide skillfully without the skills derived from their walk, skills that are refined as they recover from the battles of life.

Thus, we must learn to lead ourselves, especially in areas of morality. This will never be achieved by just following a code or list of rules. Building strong relationships with like-minded mentors and leaders who can serve as accountability partners can go a long way in ensuring you are kept in check.

In my new book, Living at the Next Level, Leaders Edition, my goal is to help you establish your compass by building a relationship...