— DAY 2 —

TUESDAY 4 AUGUST, 2026

 

THE POSTURE OF PREPARATION


SETTING THE SCENE
Long before Joshua was the famous commander who brought down the walls of Jericho, he was simply known as Moses' assistant. For decades in the wilderness, Joshua did not have the spotlight. He was not making the final decisions or leading the congregation. Instead, he was being trained. Joshua faithfully served a leader who was further ahead in his journey, recognising that Moses saw things he could not yet see. Joshua eventually led the entire nation downward into the Promised Land, but his legendary leadership was entirely built on decades of humbly receiving instruction, correction, and mentorship from the man God placed over him.

 

SCRIPTURE PASSAGES

Exodus 24:13 (NLT)
"So Moses and his assistant Joshua set out, and Moses climbed up the mountain of God."


Exodus 33:11 (NLT)
"Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would stay behind in the Tent of Meeting."


Proverbs 12:15 (NLT)
"Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others."


Proverbs 19:20 (NLT)
"Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life."


Proverbs 27:6 (NLT)
"Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy."


Hebrews 12:11 (NLT)
"No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening, it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way."

 

COMMENT
We live in a culture that is obsessed with the spotlight. We want the title, the microphone, and the authority, and we often like to believe we already have all the answers. But in the Kingdom of God, the pathway to leadership always begins with being a student. Before God will ever hand you the steering wheel to lead others downward, He will carefully test how you relate upward.

If you are going to grow, you must understand a crucial spiritual reality, the leader God has placed over you is further ahead in their journey than you are. Because they are standing further up the mountain, they have a vantage point you do not yet possess. They have a bird's eye view of the overarching dynamics, relational complexities, and potential pitfalls that you simply cannot see from your current position.

Think about Joshua in the wilderness. When Moses took the camp in a new, challenging direction, Joshua did not stop to get outside input. He didn't poll the neighboring nations, look for a second opinion on Moses' leadership style, or question every move. He trusted the covering God had placed over him and moved when his leader moved.

This brings up a critical question, who is the loudest voice in your world? In an age of endless podcasts, conferences, and social media, it is incredibly easy to look outside your church for input, direction, and vision. While getting outside input can be valuable, you must be highly careful about who is shaping your leadership. Outside voices do not know the specific nuances, spiritual climate, or relational dynamics of your team. If the loudest voice in your life is an outsider who does not have to deal with the consequences of your decisions, you are setting yourself up for misalignment.

Your upline leaders should always be your first stop for vision and direction. God intentionally placed these specific leaders over you, and you must anchor your heart to this truth, they want the best for you. They do not want you to fail. When they offer feedback or redirection, they are trying to build your capacity. God is training you from the inside out, and the absolute greatest evidence of your growth is shown directly through how you interact with your leader. You are in God's training room. Whose voice will you choose to listen to?

 

WAYS TO EMBRACE YOUR TRAINING

  • Be Proactive in Seeking Out Your Leaders: Joshua did not just passively wait for instructions, he intentionally positioned himself near Moses and climbed the mountain with him. Do not wait for correction to come to you. Proactively ask for your leader's input, invite them into your blind spots, and show them you are hungry for their specific mentorship.

  • Seek Your Upline First: Before turning to outside peers, podcasts, or mentors for direction, make it a deliberate habit to go to your upline first. Value their bird's eye view of the house over the generic advice of an outsider.

  • Drop the Need to Be Right: Stop trying to prove you have already arrived. Find incredible freedom in simply being a student and actively listening to the wisdom of those further ahead without formulating a defence.

  • Borrow Their Vantage Point: When given direction that doesn't completely make sense from your current view, choose to trust their higher perspective. Ask questions to understand their "why" instead of secretly questioning their authority.

  • Implement Feedback Immediately: The fastest way to embrace training is to put it into action. Show your leaders you value their input by making quick, noticeable adjustments in how you lead and serve.

 

THE HONOUR SELF ASSESSMENT
Pick the number that best describes where you feel you’re at right now with each of the the leaders God has placed over you (ALL OF THEM).

  1. The Defender: When I receive input, my immediate reaction is anger. I assume my leader is just criticizing me. I make excuses, blame others, and secretly think I already know better.

  2. Reluctant Student: I don't argue out loud, but I stew on the feedback for days. I eventually make the change, but I hold onto a quiet grudge because I hate feeling like I was wrong.

  3. Growing Learner: I still feel the initial sting of pride when corrected, but I am learning to process it quickly. I try to see my leader's higher perspective and adjust without making excuses.

  4. Highly Coachable: I view my leader's input as invaluable training. I value their vantage point, drop my pride immediately, and thank them for helping me grow.

 

ACTION POINTS

  1. The First Five: Give God the first five minutes of your day in silence before checking your phone, asking Him to reveal any areas where you have believed you have already "arrived."

    1. The Coachable Response: If you receive feedback, direction, or correction today, do not explain yourself. Simply say thank you for the feedback and make the adjustment.

    2. The Wisdom Ask: Reach out to your leader this week and proactively ask for input. Say, "Since you are further ahead and have a broader view of the ministry, is there any area where you see I could improve?"

 

MAIN QUESTIONS
(Self Reflection)

Let’s Talk in the Chat
(on the Boot Camp group in Planning Center)

One of the best parts of this journey is that we aren’t doing it alone. We’d love for our chat to be a place of real connection. As you go through each day, please jump in and share:

  1. God’s Voice: What is one specific thing you feel the Holy Spirit is whispering to your heart?

  2. Self-Reflection: What did the "test" reveal to you today?

  3. The Wins: Did you do one of the action points? Tell us about it!

  4. Testimony: Share a testimony of how feedback from your up-line has created growth in you?


Please Read:
Don't worry about sounding 'spiritual' The most encouraging thing you can share is your honest process. This is a self-reflection about what God is speaking directly to you about in YOUR life. Words like “I” and “Me” are encouraged, “we” and “us” less so.

 

PERSONAL PRAYER STARTER
"Lord, I’ll be honest, I hate having my flaws exposed, and I often mistake training for criticism. Forgive me for the times I have acted like I have already arrived and resisted the wisdom of the leaders You placed over me. Help me to trust that they want the best for me and see things I cannot see yet. Give me a soft, highly coachable heart. Do Your work inside of me in this training room and let my response to my leaders be the ultimate proof of my growth. Amen."

 
REGISTER COMPLETION OF DAY 1