Finding the Best Counsel
As a leader, I recognize that I carry a heavy responsibility. I need to be the direction-finder, the pacesetter, and the problem-solver. And when challenges arise like the one we’re currently facing with COVID-19, I also need to be the decision-maker.
I embrace this role. It comes with the territory. I take it seriously and I lean into it vigorously.
I’m smart enough, however, to realize that I’m not…well…smart enough. Recognizing the need for counsel, I eagerly seek it out. I ask my wife’s opinion, I meet with my staff, I look to the church elders. And that’s an important thing to do. Indeed, Scripture tells us that…
Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety. (Proverbs 11:14)
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (Proverbs 15:22)
But here’s where I was recently brought up short. While I recognized the value of human counsel, I had begun to neglect the necessity of divine counsel.
With a long list of tasks to complete and issues to address, these last few weeks I’ve found myself rising early in the morning, sitting down to my computer, and jumping right into the work at hand.
If in fact, I did seek the Lord, it was with a quick, “Help me to solve this” rather than an intentional, “Speak to me, Father.”
It humbles me to admit this. Yet, looking back I can see that in times of high stress or crisis, this was a common occurrence. Rather than seeking His face and listening for His voice first, I looked to bloggers, pastors, and colleagues.
Kingly Counsel
King David did not lack for leadership decisions and he certainly had some wise counselors. Yet in Psalm 25, he demonstrates that he looked up before he looked around.
Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 25:4-5
I am freshly committing myself to follow the example of my namesake. Rather than going to my desk, firing up my computer, and looking for the latest advice, I’m determined to go to my chair, get out my journal, open the Scriptures, and listen to the Lord.
I will be doing this FIRST. And it won’t be a quick “read a verse and mumble a prayer.”
It will be a lingering time to allow the Word to speak to me, to allow me to meditate on what I think God wants to say to me, and then responding to that in obedience.
Because here’s the amazing thing I need to remember. Later in Psalm 25, David says this: “The Lord confides in those who fear him…” (vs. 14).
Think about that.
The Lord confides in – brings into His confidence, shares His thoughts and secrets with – those who come to Him with expectation and reverence. He wants to speak to us. He wants to impart His wisdom. However, we must take the time to seek Him, to wait patiently for Him, to listen to Him.
The Lord wants to speak to us. He wants to impart His wisdom. However, we must take the time to seek Him, to wait patiently for Him, to listen to Him.
To be sure, this will mean that I don’t get to address the challenges or make the decisions or solve the problems as quickly as I might like. But, in the end, I’m convinced that this first counsel I receive, while perhaps not being the last counsel I receive, will be the best counsel I receive.
I encourage you to do likewise.
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