Heart is the Key

Exodus 28:29

And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.

God revealed one of the essential keys to being a successful ministry leader through the apparel of the high priest. Of all the pieces of garments the high priest was to wear, it was the breastplate that had a stone representing every tribe in Israel placed over the heart of Aaron the high priest. God goes further to show this importance when He said, And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart…. God wanted Aaron to always remember those he served by having their representation lying on his heart.

One of the great keys to any ministry being successful is for the ministry leader to put his heart into it. No ministry leader will succeed if their ministry time is just a time clock they punch to say they put their time in. People want to know that you love them and truly care for them. People don't want to be a time slot in your ministry life; they want to know that you truly care for them and love them.

A bus worker who just puts their time in with their route will struggle to see growth. A Sunday school teacher who wants to make a difference in the lives of those they teach and see their class grow must always have each class member on their heart. A pastor that will be successful must put their heart into pastoring their church. If pastoring a church is a side gig to get a paycheck, that church will struggle to grow and the people will not follow that pastor.

Heart is the key to changing lives. The dad said to the son in Proverbs 23:26, My son, give me thine heart.… You cannot change the hearts of people if they won't give you their heart. However, people will never give you their heart if you don't first give your heart to them. People are reciprocal; they respond by how you lead. If a bus worker wants the heart of his riders, he must first give his heart to them if they want their route to grow and be a life-changing route. If a Sunday school teacher wants the hearts of those they teach, they must first give their heart to them before their people will give their heart to the teacher. Before people will give their heart to the leader, they will require the leader to invest their heart into them; once they see the investment of heart, they will be more inclined to give the ministry leader their heart.

Moreover, you can keep those you lead on your heart if you always carry a list of those you lead with you. This is where a little organization will help. I carry my Sunday school class list with me everywhere I go. I often go through that list and think about those in my class. There is no way you can put your heart into those you lead if you don't have their names with you. Keeping them in sight at all times is critical to keeping them and their needs on your mind. Get a list of every person you lead in your ministry and keep it with you at all times so they are always on your heart.

Furthermore, taking time to pray for each person helps you to put your heart into your ministry. Of course, you won't know their needs if you don't visit and talk to them when they come. Praying for those you lead will have a great impact on your ability to give your heart to those you lead. You will never give your heart to anyone or anything you don't pray for; therefore, spend time weekly praying for those you lead so your heart is invested in them.