Leaders Go First

By Chris Binion

In leadership, as in life, everything shifts when we say yes to God. It’s not a quiet, hesitant yes. It’s not a theoretical yes. It’s the kind of wholehearted, deeply rooted, soul-convicting YES that can only be forged in fire—the kind of yes that echoes Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 1:20: “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us” (NKJV).

That word “through” matters. When leaders say yes to God, His promises don’t just bless them; they flow through them into the lives they influence. And that’s where the transformation begins.

WHEN YES IS MOST POWERFUL

When the apostle Paul wrote his second letter to the church in Corinth, he was in a painful, uncertain season. His reputation was being questioned, his plans were misunderstood and his body was suffering. The Christians in the city were jealous and divisive. They had turned against Paul, and now he had to defend his role as an apostle because they were dumping him.

In addition to that, Paul had suffered so severely that he thought he was going to die. Yet in the midst of it all, he didn’t respond with ambiguity. He responded with an unwavering declaration: In Jesus, God’s answer is, “Yes.”

For leaders, that kind of certainty is not cultivated in times of ease. It’s shaped when everything is collapsing. When plans fail. When trust is broken. When the future is unclear. That’s where a leader’s yes matters most—not the yes to a job or opportunity, but the yes to God’s process, God’s people and God’s promises.

Leadership is about alignment with the One who already said yes to us. C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity:

“When you come to knowing God, the initiative lies on His side. If He does not show Himself, nothing you can do will enable you to find Him. And, in fact, He shows much more of Himself to some people than to others—not because He has favourites, but because it is impossible for Him to show Himself to a man whose whole mind and character are in the wrong condition. Just as sunlight, though it has no favourites, cannot be reflected in a dusty mirror as clearly as in a clean one.”

Our leadership doesn’t begin with ambition. It begins with response. We only lead well when we first follow well.

And following well means enduring misunderstanding. Just as Paul had to defend his integrity to those who doubted him, leaders today will face moments when their motives are questioned and their actions scrutinized. It is in those moments that our yes becomes not just a declaration of faith but an anchor of identity.

A leader’s yes is not always rewarded with applause. In fact, it’s often misunderstood, mischaracterized and even mocked. But a true yes is not about optics; it’s about obedience. It’s about aligning ourselves with heaven even when it costs us influence on earth. That kind of alignment doesn’t come from ambition—it comes from intimacy.

When we let the word “richly dwell” within us, the Spirit whispers affirmations that we belong to God, points out sin so we can repent and experience cleansing, directs us where He wants to use us and empowers us to be effective. You can’t beat that!

THE STORY OF A FATHER’S YES

Years ago, my teenage daughter, Haley, was spiraling into self-destruction after an experience of sexual assault that shattered her sense of safety and identity. She began to steal, lie, run from accountability and ultimately landed in jail. And there I was, a father and a leader, faced with a terrible crossroads: bail her out or let her sit. I chose to let her sit.

Why? Because my yes to God required my no to the easier route. It wasn’t a decision without anguish or backlash—even from my wife. But I sensed that God was doing something deeper in her, and I had to trust that.

That decision, though painful, is a model for leaders in every sector. Sometimes, the best thing we can do for those we lead is allow them to encounter God in the very consequences we want to spare them from. Development doesn’t happen in rescue. It happens in wrestling.

This is one of the most painful truths of leadership. We often want to play the hero, to swoop in and fix things for those we care about. But God is after transformation, not just relief. And sometimes, saying yes to His plan means withholding our intervention.

Two months in, Haley changed. Not because I rescued her, but because God met her there. He used the voice of a stranger in jail to remind her of her heritage, her calling, her name. A worship leader in chains. A voice in the middle of chaos. Her yes in that moment changed everything.

Today, Haley leads worship at our church’s multiple campuses. She is not the girl we feared we had lost. She is a leader reshaped by grace. And it all started with a yes—first God’s, then mine, then hers.

This is the cycle of transformational leadership. God’s yes enables our yes. Our yes empowers the yes of those we lead. It’s the divine flow of influence that turns victims into victors, prodigals into prophets and followers into leaders.

THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF YES

Every yes births transformation. And for those of us leading others, the ripple is unavoidable. Let’s revisit Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. His bold, unwavering yes to God didn’t emerge from comfort—it was forged in adversity. Paul was no stranger to pain, betrayal and disappointment, often at the hands of fellow believers. Yet, in the midst of all that, he remained anchored. Later in the letter, he reveals the motive behind his perseverance: his ambition was not applause, recognition or control—it was simply to be pleasing to Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:9).

Why do we lead? What truly drives us? Is it admiration? Influence? Control? Paul cuts through all those shallow pursuits with this powerful line: “For Christ’s love compels us” (2 Corinthians 5:14, NKJV). His yes flowed from love—not obligation or pressure. Christ’s sacrifice reshaped His perspective so deeply that he could no longer live for himself. His life became a response.

This isn’t surface-level renovation. God doesn’t apply grace like wallpaper over cracked walls—He rebuilds from the ground up. “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Yes, our surroundings might look the same. Our job titles may not change. But everything internal—our motives, our priorities, our outlook—is radically transformed.

And more than that, God entrusts us with His mission. We’re not spectators in His story—we’re participants. Ambassadors. Carriers of reconciliation. As Paul writes, “God is making His appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20, ESV). Leadership isn’t a platform for self-expression; it’s a channel for divine purpose.

So, what does it actually look like when the old is replaced by the new? When our yes begins to reshape not only our identity but our daily lives?

Here are a few of the transformations we can expect:

1. It changes our connection with God. One of the most profound shifts that takes place when we say yes to God is the transformation in how we relate to Him. Before surrender, many leaders—even those in ministry—operate with distorted perceptions of God. Some see Him as a demanding taskmaster, impossible to please. Others imagine Him as a distant observer—uninvolved, uninterested or perpetually disappointed. These false views quietly shape how we lead, often driving us toward performance, perfectionism or people-pleasing.

But everything changes when our yes is rooted in relationship rather than religion. We begin to experience God not just as Creator, but as Father. Not just as holy, but as near. We realize we are not merely servants working for His approval; we are sons and daughters already secure in His love.

Through the prophet Isaiah, God offers a stunning image of His commitment to us: “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:16). Not written in pencil. Not added as a note. Engraved. Permanent. Intimate. Carried with Him everywhere. That’s not a metaphor of obligation—it’s a picture of devotion.

When leaders live from that kind of connection, we stop striving for worthiness and start leading from belovedness. We make decisions out of clarity, not fear. We create cultures where others are safe to grow, not pressured to perform. This is the foundation of a transformed leader: not someone who knows all the right strategies, but someone who knows they are known—and loved—by God.

2. It changes our view of sin. We stop hiding. We stop striving. We allow ourselves—and those we lead—to be drawn by beauty, not driven by shame. We begin to see sin not as something to deny or disguise, but as a place where God’s grace wants to meet us and do a deeper work. As leaders, we model repentance and restoration, not perfection. We admit when we fall short. We extend mercy when others do.

Why? Because we know our weaknesses don’t disqualify us—they reveal where Christ is strongest. As Paul wrote, “[His] power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). That truth becomes not just a theological concept but a leadership posture.

This matters deeply in leadership. Shame-driven leaders often lead from insecurity, which leads to manipulation, control or emotional distance. Grace-driven leaders, on the other hand, lead from vulnerability and strength. They cultivate spaces of trust and transformation. The power of yes dismantles shame and replaces it with a confident dependence on God’s mercy.

3. It changes our attitude. I’ve noticed something about myself: my attitude tends to rise and fall with how closely reality aligns with my expectations. That’s not exactly groundbreaking insight, but it’s a reminder of how easily our internal posture can shift based on external circumstances. When things go according to plan, I’m content. When they don’t, I start to spiral.

But perspective resets everything. The truth is, apart from Christ, what I actually deserved was separation from God—hell, isolation, despair. A place where, as Scripture puts it, “their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:48, NKJV). Yet what I’ve received instead is mercy, purpose and power. I’ve been given far more than I could ever earn or repay.

When I hold those two realities side by side—what I deserved and what I’ve received—gratitude rushes in. Entitlement fades. And my attitude shifts, not because everything is easy, but because I remember everything is grace.

4. It changes our priorities. A leader’s yes to God recalibrates ambition. The spotlight dims. Significance shifts from applause to obedience. Jeremiah 9:24 reminds us: we boast not in wisdom or strength, but in understanding and knowing God. That becomes the leader’s true compass.

When our priorities are shaped by obedience rather than outcomes, we stop measuring success by numbers and start measuring it by faithfulness. And in doing so, we become the kind of leaders worth following.

This shift isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it looks like leaving a bigger opportunity for a smaller assignment. Sometimes it means investing more in a struggling staff member than in a shiny new strategy. But the yes always points us toward what matters most to God.

5. It changes our relationships. Some people aren’t meant to walk the whole journey with us. Our yes will often require releasing relationships that pull us backward. At the same time, God will place mentors, peers and friends beside us who stir our yes deeper.

For leaders, this can be one of the hardest shifts to make. Loyalty to people must never outweigh loyalty to purpose. And while it may feel disloyal to part ways with someone you started with, it is sometimes the most faithful thing you can do.

Godly relationships accelerate obedience. Toxic relationships erode it. The yes-driven leader learns to discern the difference.

6. It changes our habits. A leader’s life is often full, but is it fruitful? Yes changes how we steward our time, focus and energy. We replace distraction with devotion. We put off the old self and put on the new, as Paul writes to the Ephesians. Leadership integrity is born in these daily, often unseen choices.

We cannot expect revival in public if we neglect rhythms in private. Saying yes to God daily includes saying no to patterns that sabotage our intimacy with Him. And habits don’t just change what we do—they change who we become. What we rehearse becomes what we reflect. The more our actions echo our yes, the more our influence expands.

7. It changes how we invest our time and money. When we truly see Jesus as both crucified Savior and risen King, our perspective on ownership shifts. He is Lord over everything—including the hours in our day and the resources in our hands. Time, once treated casually, now becomes sacred. We realize it can be squandered, spent selfishly or invested intentionally in the things that matter most: our families, our callings and the advancement of God’s kingdom.

The same is true of our finances. When we understand that everything we have ultimately belongs to Him, we stop clutching and start stewarding. Our spending habits shift. Our generosity grows. We no longer give out of guilt or obligation, but from hearts overflowing with gratitude. And the more we give, the more we realize we’re not losing anything. We’re investing in eternity. That’s the beauty of a yes-filled life: giving becomes joy, not sacrifice.

Make no mistake: saying yes to God costs something. It cost Jesus everything. It cost Paul imprisonment and pain. It may cost you influence, security or relationships. But it will never cost you purpose.

Your yes is your offering. It’s the currency of eternal impact. And the return on that investment is greater than anything the world could offer.

Jesus said in Matthew 16:25, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Your leadership life is found on the other side of your surrendered yes.

And perhaps that’s the ultimate paradox of leadership: the more we surrender, the more authority we carry. The more we yield, the more we gain. The more we say yes to Him, the more others are empowered to do the same.

LEADERS GO FIRST

When we say yes, we’re not only stepping into God’s promises; we’re making it easier for others to do the same. Our bold obedience gives permission. Our trust opens doors. Our faithfulness sets pace.

God doesn’t need perfect leaders. He needs responsive ones. The kind who will take His hand, even when the path ahead is unclear. The kind who, like Paul, will say yes in suffering. Like Haley, will say yes in shame. Like you, will say yes in your leadership.

Not later. Not someday. But now.

Take His hand.

Say yes.

Because your yes changes everything.

And so will theirs.

Because when a leader says yes to God, it’s never just about them. It’s about everyone their life will touch, everyone their leadership will influence and everyone whose own yes is waiting to be unlocked by the power of theirs.

If this article resonated with you, Chris Binion's book is a must-read—find it here: https://account.theartofleadership.com/qc/wgGmHwGP6T