Kristin Elizabeth Couch is a pastor’s wife, the mother of four grown children, and a new grandmother. She graduated from Taylor University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts in English Writing, and has written for Desiring God, SBC of Virginia’s Proclaimer, and has also been a featured guest on Moody Radio’s Kurt and Kate Mornings. Kristin recently published her first book, It Began on Washington Street – Tracing the Goodness of God Through All of Life. She publishes her stories at her blog, 
We naturally assume that leaders carry prestigious titles and rule with strict authority from the heights of the corner office, don’t we? While this may ring true in corporate America, the finest leaders in the Church govern powerfully from bended knee, bowing low in humility before the Lord.
Such heart posture resonates with the conviction of John the Baptist as he spoke of Jesus.
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)
The spirit of submission does not mean morphing into a doormat. On the contrary: those most submissive to Christ unwaveringly seek God through obedience to the sound doctrine of Scripture, with deep reverence and love for him. Godly leaders are marked by doctrinally-sound spines of steel paired with soft, tender hearts.
Such servants of God lead by example, increasing in sanctification while bearing lush, ripe, and fragrant fruit of the Holy Spirit. While some people will be favorably drawn to these characteristics in a leader, seeking to bear such fruit themselves, the arrogant will be miffed, exposed for who they truly are, bearers of rotten fruit and thereby viewing humility as a weakness, rather than a strength.
This scenario played out repeatedly in Jesus’ ministry. Our Savior was unremarkable in appearance, (Isaiah 53:2) walking the dusty roads of humanity, living, speaking, and teaching truth among normal people, rather than dressing in finery and dwelling in a golden palace. As he invited sinners to repentance and personal holiness, he served others and washed filthy feet. This King of Glory was God incarnate–the greatest Ruler the world will ever see. The Bible shows us that some responded in appropriate humility (Luke 19:1-10) while others raged against Christ’s teachings (Luke 20).
As Christian women, we are invited to follow in the likeness of our Lord and Master, leading by dying to ourselves, decreasing so that Christ burns brightly in and through us, as we drop low in utter surrender, palms opened to whatever the Lord has planned, seeking to serve others from bended knee.
To lead from lowliness is an outflow of an inner conviction to follow in the footsteps of our Master: Christ.
Are you a leader in your church?
You do not have to be overseeing a ministry or serving in an official capacity to be a leader. As a faithful church member, walking in humble accordance with Scripture while serving others, you are in fact leading by example. Your husband, children, grandchildren, friends, and fellow church members will be watching and learning as you press into Jesus Christ.
Your full submission to him, as a woman on bended knee, is powerful, indeed.
“so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)
