A leader recognizes the blessing of the grace of God

A leader is not blind to the strategic positioning that comes to his life through the grace of God. He recognizes the position that God has granted him and makes the most of it. This is usually the door to great blessings in his life.

And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence… Then the king said unto me, for what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.

And I said unto the king, if it pleases the king, and if thy servant has found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.

Nehemiah 2:1, 4-5

A leader recognizes the grace of God that has given him specialised knowledge. There were some young Israeli men who enjoyed life at the king's palace because of the special knowledge and wisdom they had. Perhaps, God has given you a special ability to play the piano or to play golf or to speak a particular language. You will be surprised to find out that God has intended to bless you through this special skill and knowledge. And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and SKILFUL IN ALL WISDOM, and CUNNING IN KNOWLEDGE, and UNDERSTANDING SCIENCE, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

Daniel 1:3-4

A leader recognizes the grace of God that makes him occupy a special position. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Psalm 84:10 David recognized this when he said he would prefer to be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than to live in tents of wickedness. It is important to recognize what God has chosen to bless you with. Sometimes you have a position that is more important strategically than the job itself. Like Nehemiah, you may be the secretary to the king. The job of a secretary itself may not be that prestigious but being the secretary to the king may hold greater prospects than being the manager of a bank. Sometimes, the position becomes more important than the job itself. Being the head of an ant is still smaller than being the tail of the elephant.

A leader recognizes the grace of God that gives him an understanding of complex issues. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Psalm 42:7

The ability to understand what is happening takes you ahead. Every leader looks for people who have a certain depth of reasoning. Whenever they find someone who can reason along certain lines they promote the fellow and relate more closely to him. Scripture teaches us that “deep calls unto deep.” Leaders are deep and they relate with people who are equally deep. The deep leader calls out to someone who is equally deep. King David had a friend called Ahithophel with whom he had sweet, deep fellowship. King Solomon had a friend called Zabud. Both Ahitophel and Zabud must have been deep enough to relate with those kings.

A leader recognizes the grace of God to succeed even through something that he was not trained for. Prosperity may not come through what you learned in school. Accept this fact quickly and open yourself to God's provision. Jesus was trained to be a carpenter “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary…?” (Mark 6:3) but He became a minister of the gospel. His needs were not met by the carpentry trade. His needs were met by the way all ministers' needs are met – through gifts, offerings and substance ministered unto Him by the people.

And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

Luke 8:3

I was trained to be a medical doctor but I do not live by the practice of medicine. I am sustained through the ministry. Most of the presidents I know of were trained in different fields; but are sustained by politics. In one presidential election, I counted six medical doctors including heart surgeons who desired to be presidents of the country. Here were people who have been trained for one thing and yet prospered through something else. Remember, many successful people work in areas that they were not trained for!

theaol@ymail.com

By Dag Heward-Mills