A Leader's Prayer for Wisdom
One of my favorite leadership studies in the Bible is Paul. I admire how his life was dedicated to developing the early church. As he traveled from community to community, you see a leader with a deep passion for those he lead.
I’m currently doing Sue Edwards’ study of Ephesians
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” Ephesians 1:17-18
As leaders we feel the responsibility to give direction and provide wisdom for those we lead. I often pray that God will give me wisdom so that I can lead others well, but look at how Paul approached this differently. Paul isn’t praying that God would give him wisdom to lead them better. He’s praying that God would give the Ephesians the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.
This is so stinkin’ good!
As leaders, are you praying for God to impart wisdom to those you lead… directly to those you lead and not necessarily through you?
A few years ago another Executive Pastor friend told me how his senior pastor very deliberately prays for God’s wisdom for his leadership. My friend was sharing how incredibly humbling it was to know that his Senior Pastor prays that prayer for him. (By the way, they are thriving and growing church too.)
I’ve prayed for wisdom for as long as I can remember. I envy Solomon. But I have to be honest, I have not prayed for wisdom for my team with the same focus.
What about you? Have you prayed for wisdom for your team lately? What would happen if we did?
I often put myself before others when it comes to prayers for virtues like wisdom. At the same time, I can get frustrated when people don’t see something as clearly as me. In a leadership position, it is always good to foster environments where growing in wisdom is shepherded rather than run a dictatorship. This has definitely been a weakness for me in the past. We can look no further than someone like Solomon who led several different teams on building the Temple and had a whole chain of command to know it takes more than one person being equipped to lead. I hope I do a better job of praying for others this way.
That is good Jenni!!
I will definitely being praying for my team in that area. I guess I have been a little selfish in just praying for myself to recieve wisdom.
Blessings!!
Very well said Jenni!!
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I never thought to do so, but as my organization embark on another year I will be implementing this prayer in my life for them.
Thank you Jenni–I have often prayed that my team at Church be good team members. So, I will now starting praying that they have the wisdom to be good and wise leaders.