7 Principles for Managing Oneself: One Christian’s Perspective

For much of my career, I’ve been a huge fan of management guru Peter Drucker. I’ve read nearly everything he’s written. Experts consider him to be the father of modern management.

Drucker’s article Managing Oneself, first published in Harvard Business Review in 1999, has become one of his most influential works. It offers Drucker’s timeless wisdom on personal and professional development.

In the article, Drucker champions self-reflection, personal accountability, and adaptability. Drucker believes that by understanding and developing your strengths, values, and preferred work style, you become more capable of directing your own path and are able to create a lasting impact.

In my post today, I hope to pay a bit of homage to Drucker and his teachings, as we unpack what managing oneself looks like from a Christian perspective.

In our fast-paced world, we can easily feel like we’re simply reacting to life. I believe you and I are called to live life intentionally and purposefully and not just passively move through life. As a Christian, my walk with Jesus involves more than just knowing about Him; it’s about aligning my decisions, actions, and mindset with His will. Am I living the life Jesus wants me to live in a way Jesus expects me to live it?

Here are seven principles for managing oneself—principles that not only lead to personal growth but help us walk more closely with God and serve others better. At the end of the day, isn’t that what we all want?

1. Own Your Life: Live as God’s Steward

First and foremost, we must recognize that our lives are not our own. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 that we are bought at a price, and that price was the life of Jesus Christ.

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Therefore, as followers of Christ, owning our lives means taking responsibility for how we live, serve, and make decisions. We must reflect God’s calling on our lives in what we think, what we say, and what we do. Are my thoughts, words, and actions pure and reflective of a Holy God having authority over my life?

By His grace and through His mercy, God has gifted us the opportunity to steward our lives. It’s not something He had to do. But, it’s something He chose to do out His love for us.

When we take ownership of how we live, we reflect His glory in all that we do—be it through our work, in our relationships, or in our everyday decision-making. Would Jesus ask me to do this in this way?

2. Be Accountable for Your Actions: Walk with Integrity

Accountability is a key cornerstone of living the Christian life. It’s a difficult word for us. Every day, I encounter people who struggle with this. Everyone seems to want freedom without accountability. But that’s not how life works, especially for me as a Christian. I am accountable for what I think, say, and do. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:17 to do everything in the name of the Lord. That means every action, every choice, and every word we speak must reflect our faith in Christ. As Christians, we hold ourselves accountable before God and others.

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Living our lives with integrity means not concealing our faults or pretending we have it all together. Trust me, I don’t. As I wrote these words, I am convicted of how frequently I fall short of these aspirations. I confess that I don’t always think pure thoughts, speak pure words, or act with pure intentions. No, dear reader, I’m a Ph.D when it comes to sinfulness. Living life with integrity means we are honest about where we fall short as we seek forgiveness and growth. If you find that accountability is a burden, you’re doing it wrong. Remember: Everything God created is good (Genesis 1). Therefore, we welcome accountability as a gift from God, designed to help us remain rooted in the truth of His Word and to stay aligned with His purpose for our lives. God created accountability for our good. Let us embrace it.

3. Take Responsibility for Your Decisions: Seek God’s Wisdom

We have the opportunity to reflect God’s will in every decision we make. James 1:5 assures us that if we lack wisdom, we can ask God for it, and He will give it generously. That’s true whether we are choosing a career path, navigating relationships, or making financial decisions. As believers, it’s important to seek God’s guidance.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Taking responsibility for our decisions means not just acting on impulse or doing what others expect. Instead, it means we intentionally seek God’s wisdom through prayer, the Bible, and the counsel of other trusted believers. Our decisions should reflect God’s heart. When we do that, we grow in maturity and in greater alignment with His plan for us.

4. Guard Your Heart and Mind: Protect Your Inner Life

Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Our hearts and minds are the root source of our actions. We do what we believe. When we allow negativity, fear, or worldly distractions to fill our hearts, that will overflow into our words and deeds.

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Guarding our heart and mind means being intentional about what we allow in it. We filter the things we watch, listen to, and the thoughts we entertain. By protecting our inner life, we make room for God’s peace and wisdom to shape our attitudes and actions.

Through prayer, meditation, and reflection, we renew our minds, aligning ourselves with God’s truth.

5. Exercise Your Voice: Speak Truth with Love

God gives each of us a voice—it’s up to us to speak up, whether it’s in our families, workplaces, or communities. Speaking the truth in love doesn’t mean we are expected to be silent when injustice or hurt is happening around us. On the contrary, we are called to use our voices for good, to speak truth, to encourage, and to stand up for what’s right.

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Exercising our voice in a way that honors God means choosing to speak words that build others up, that encourage, and that lead to healing.

It’s not just about being heard—it’s about using our voice to reflect God’s love, wisdom, and grace in all situations.

6. Spend Time with God: Cultivate a Deep Relationship

Above all, managing yourself isn’t simply about applying principles; it’s about staying rooted in God’s presence.

Spending time with God is foundational to all these principles. Jesus frequently withdrew to pray, demonstrating the importance of regular time alone with God. It’s in this space of prayer that we listen, reflect, and receive the strength and guidance we need for our journey.

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Spending time with God transforms us, connecting our hearts and minds with His will while empowering us to live lives of truth, wisdom, and love.

7. Spend Time in God’s Word: Let His Truth Shape You

The Bible is not just a book of rules—it’s living and active. It offers guidance, wisdom, and encouragement. Making God’s Word a daily part of our lives, shapes our thoughts, actions, and decisions. It renews our minds and strengthens our faith.

When we meditate on Scripture, we not only gain insight into God’s will but we grow in our relationship with Him. It’s through His Word that we learn to walk in His truth and become all that He created us to be.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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Living with Purpose and Intent

When we adopt these principles, we don’t just improve ourselves. We align ourselves with God’s greater purpose. We find ourselves living out our faith in tangible ways, growing in wisdom and love as we serve Him and those around us.

Managing oneself isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. Choosing to grow and become more like Christ every day opens the door for God to transform us into the person He created us to be.

God is with us every step of our journey. He’s our guide, our strength, and our wisdom. As we walk this path of self-management, we can trust that He will direct our steps and help us live in a way that brings glory to Him.

Be intentional.

Until my next post…

God bless America. 

Grace and peace,

Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™

#JesusStrong