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 (a great Bible study by the way) and I found this passage in Ephesians 1 really inspiring and really challenging.

“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?