Are you a strategic thinker? (103-5)

Effective leaders think strategically. Read 2 Kings 3:9-27.

In the Maxwell Leadership Bible, John Maxwell discusses strategic thinking.

The kings of Judah, Israel, and Edom ally themselves to fight Moab. But in the middle of the desert they make a horrifying discovery: They have run out of water!! Panic strikes until they remember Elisha and his connection to the God of miracles.

Elisha responds differently to their request than they had imagined. He declares God will give them plenty of water – that was easy. But he also predicts God will give them Moab itself (2 Kings 3:17, 18).

The principle is this: These kings were diverted from their big-picture mission with a logistical matter. No doubt, water was important. But God reminded them that they had asked only for the small thing, not the ultimate thing.

Years ago, Discipleship Journal published an article on this very lesson. Our prayers as leaders must become more strategic.

• Logistical prayer: We pray logistically when we ask God for small things: “Lord, help the microphones to work today as I teach.”
• Tactical prayer: We pray tactically when we pray for more meaningful things, but still not for the ultimate: “Lord, help me to say something meaningful today to my people.”
• Strategic prayer: We pray strategically when we pray for the ultimate purpose of God: “Lord, may You be glorified today and may You raise up disciples from this meeting.”

With the number of decisions a leader will make every day, when crisis situations happen, with the pressure to meet the physical and emotional needs of your team, with deadlines ever looming, it is easy for a leader to ignore thinking strategically. Effective leaders think and pray strategically.

Proverbs 24:3 “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established.”

Ecclesiastes 12:9 “Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.”