Fact: Most leaders want growth but they do not have a strategy for growth.
Insight: Most leaders desire growth, yet many lack the strategy to achieve it. They rely solely on prayer, believing that prayer itself is the strategy. While prayer is essential, it should not be used as a substitute for planning and action. Instead, prayer should be the means through which we receive Godly wisdom and direction. Leaders must not simply pray for God to build their vision; they must seek God’s blueprint for building it themselves. The purpose of prayer is not just to be infused with power, but to be infused with God’s wisdom.
True prayer is a dialogue—where we speak to God and He speaks back to us.
- Prayer is meant to provide empowerment, favor, and strategy.
- Leaders must pray for God’s blueprint, not just for results.
- True prayer is a dialogue that brings Godly wisdom.
James 1:5 (NLT) “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”
- Nehemiah demonstrates how prayer should be used to obtain strategy. Upon learning that the walls of Jerusalem were in ruins and that his people were suffering in distress, he did not just pray for God to rebuild them.
Nehemiah 1:4 (NLT) When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.”
- Question: Why did Nehemiah pray and fast?
- Answer: He prayed and fasted to receive a divine download of wisdom and direction (Nehemiah 1:4-11)
- By the time Nehemiah finished praying, he had a well-thought-out strategy and a plan of action. When he approached the king, he did not merely ask for help—he presented a detailed plan. The king inquired about the timeline, and Nehemiah provided a clear answer. This demonstrates that Nehemiah had calculated how long it would take and had considered every necessary detail.
- Fact: God gave him not just favor, but a blueprint to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 2:4-8 (NLT) The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven, 5 I replied, “If it pleases the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.” 6 The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request. 7 I also said to the king, “If it please the king, let me have letters addressed to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah. 8 And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me.
- Prayer is meant for empowerment, favor, and strategy. No one can build a house, a business, or a ministry through prayer alone. While prayer is powerful, leaders must understand what to pray for:
- Wisdom to lead effectively
- Organization and structure
- Skilled laborers to fill needed roles
James 1:5 (NLT) “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”
- Solomon, like Nehemiah, did not just pray for success—he prayed for wisdom. He asked God for the ability to lead and organize people effectively. As a result, his leadership was marked by divine order, and everyone was positioned correctly.
1 Kings 3:9-12 (NLT) “Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”
- Without order, growth is impossible. Leaders must do more than pray for expansion; they must pray for the ability to manage it.
- Question: Why would God send more leaders and servants if there is no place for them?
- Answer: God does not send people just to watch; He sends them to be developed. Many leaders desire a crowd, but the true purpose of leadership is to develop others. Growth without structure leads to chaos.
- The early church understood this principle. They had structure—meeting in homes, appointing leaders to oversee food distribution, and implementing systems to track numbers.
Acts 6:2-4 (NLT) So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. 3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. 4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”
- Without structure, their rapid growth would have turned into disorder.
- Insight: One of the greatest dangers leaders face is success itself. When things are going well, it’s easy to assume that everything we do is right.
1 Corinthians 10:12 (NLT) “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.”
- This false belief: can lead to complacency and poor decision-making. Overconfidence and carelessness can destroy what took years to build in a moment.
- Many ministries and businesses have collapsed because leaders failed to remain humble and diligent in their approach.
- Success should not breed arrogance—it should cultivate greater humility. Wise leaders surround themselves with counsel, track details meticulously, and remain grounded in fundamental principles.
- Growth is not accidental; it is intentional. Leaders must go beyond simply praying for success and begin seeking God for wisdom, structure, and strategy.
- Pray, but also plan.
- Seek wisdom, not just power.
- Build a structure that can sustain growth.
- Remain humble, even in success.
- Beware of overconfidence, and always seek wise counsel. A single careless decision can undo years of hard work. Be successful, but stay humble.
- Growth is guaranteed for those who apply wisdom to their leadership.
Proverbs 15:22, (NLT) “Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.”