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6. Uncovering the Details of God’s Plan
So far, we’ve found a good deal of freedom to exercise your leadership talent as long as you can do your best with what you have been given to glorify God and help build His Kingdom, not just yours.
There are so many choices and you’re perhaps not hearing God’s voice as clearly as you might like. To help with that, we’ve developed a 5-step process to provide some structure around knowing God’s will (reference listed below). At the risk of over-simplification, we provide a summary here:
1. Read the Bible.
This is the best way to hear what God is saying.
The Bible is your handbook for life, full of inspiration and insight for you to read yourself, not just for your pastor to tell you about:
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Yes, it can be difficult to understand exactly what is meant, but God has promised to make it clear with the help of His Holy Spirit:
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things – John 14:26a
2. Pray.
An equally obvious step to knowing God’s will is to pray.
Prayer completes the circle of communication between you and God. The Bible is God’s primary way to speak to us, and prayer is your primary way to speak back to Him.
God wants a relationship with you, and to live in you:
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. – John 14:23
Just like a relationship with another person is not possible without communication, so too with God. If you’re not sure how to start, then just ask for wisdom:
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. – James 1:5
3. Get Wise Counsel.
Neither leadership nor Christianity is a solo sport. Just as you might seek advice for your leadership decisions, so too with finding God’s will. This is biblical:
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. – Proverbs 27:17
The Bible goes further, instructing us to encourage, help, and pray for each other:
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…. – Hebrews 10:24-25a
Just like God can use you to help others, He will use others to speak His truth to you. Just be sure to test their advice in steps (1) and (2) above before proceeding.
4. Check your Feelings.
Emotions and personal motivations(!) are a powerful force especially when you really want something or think you already know the answer:
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? – Jeremiah 17:9
Therefore, be sure to step back and look objectively at what you think you are hearing from God, involving others per step (3) and when you can.
5. Wait, Listen & Watch.
In leadership, we are not accustomed to waiting especially when we’re ready to act. But the Bible suggests this repeatedly even with a promise:
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. – Psalm 27:14
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31b NKJV
That’s it! A summary of the 5-step process to help you find out details of God’s plan for your leadership.
Be sure to add the reference below to your reading list to be properly equipped!
Reflection / Application
- Have you experienced a time when God clearly spoke His will to you? How did that go?
- Many times we feel called to a certain position because of a series of circumstances that may have taken place. Why is it important to also actively seek God’s will?
- Post the 5 steps on a note that you will see every day. Then reflect on one step each day, digging into the Bible to learn more. What do you think will happen then?
读经计划介绍
As leaders, we are accustomed to making decisions, even when data is scarce. Such ability sometimes translates into thinking we may know God’s will for our leadership, also in the absence of adequate data. In these readings, we look at what God’s will for your leadership is, and more importantly, how you can know that you are fulfilling your calling in accordance with His Plan, not just yours.
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