Wise Christian leaders understand that both spontaneity and planning are part of God’s design for effective leadership. It is when leaders find a balance between the two that they also have the potential to find peace knowing the outcome is controlled by God. Read Proverbs 16:1-3.

God is the great designer of all creation and we see His spontaneity in His creation every day. God is also the ultimate long-range planner. He has established a plan with minute detail for every part of His dominion that reaches from the beginning of time until the end of time as we know it. Since humans are created in God’s image, wise leaders seek to mirror God’s image in all areas of their life including structure and spur-of-the-moment decisions. Read more »

Leaders can learn from simple examples God has established in nature (even the insect kingdom) when it comes to long-range planning. Read Proverbs 6:6-8.

Nature abounds with illustrations of animals and insects that store up provisions during times of abundance in preparation for times of scarcity. Ironically, creatures that are instinctively driven consistently do what leaders sometimes fail to do in spite of their rational powers. Like the ant in Proverbs 6, leaders need to prepare for times of adversity during times of abundance by managing opportunities while they last. Read more »

An effective leader has a wide range of skills. Yesterday we looked at a leader’s ability to adjust to a situation at an instant’s notice. Today, we look again at King David as a leader, but today we look at his skill as a long-range planner. Read 1 Chronicles 22:1-19.

David had asked God for the privilege of building the temple in Jerusalem that would house the Ark of the Covenant and serve as a place to represent God’s presence on earth. God said it would not be David’s assignment to build the temple, but his son Solomon would build the temple. David could have been hurt or felt rejected by God’s decision but he accepted this information and considered it part of his leadership assignment to prepare a way for his inexperienced son to be successful. Read more »

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. Read more »

Leadership takes on many forms as an organization grows or downsizes, as its climate and environment change. What remains constant is the moral base required of the leadership. Read 1 Kings 1:1-9.

Maybe you have experienced what Solomon experienced stepping into his leadership role. He was about to assume leadership after the greatest leader in Israel’s history. The expectation of the people concerning performance of their leaders was high. David had set the standard for their expectations over the last 40 years so an entire generation knew Israel as a great nation with leaders revered by all the nations around them. The inner circle of leaders that had received orders from the great King David would now be receiving orders from an 18-year-old and those first decisions would become a first impression that had the potential to form an opinion of Solomon’s abilities that would last throughout his reign. The neighboring nations were sure that no nation could find another leader with David’s skill so they were hoping for a lesser man. Sounds like a no win situation for Solomon. Read more »