Ask God for wisdom
Wisdom for the asking
James gives one of the most practical promises in Scripture to anyone facing a decision beyond them: if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given. The wisdom a leader needs is not something to be manufactured by force of intellect. It is something to be asked for.
And God does not give it grudgingly or with a lecture about why you didn't have it already. He gives generously, without reproach. The leader who treats wisdom as available for the asking has a resource the self-reliant never tap.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach.”
— James — James 1:5 (WEB)
When you lack wisdom, ask God — he gives generously and without reproach. Leadership wisdom is requested, not manufactured.
“...Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.”
James treats wisdom as something to ask God for, not to force from your own intellect. A leader formed here turns first to God for the wisdom he lacks. He receives it as a generous gift, not a grudging one. The inner work is asking rather than only striving.
Make asking God for wisdom your first move in decisions beyond you, not your last resort. Pray for discernment as readily as you analyze. Teach your team to ask God for wisdom rather than only working harder. Lead from a posture of requesting wisdom, trusting God's generosity.
Leaders try to manufacture wisdom through intellect and effort, forgetting it is available for the asking. The blind spot is striving for wisdom you could simply request.
Take one decision currently beyond your wisdom. This week, before analyzing it further, actually ask God for wisdom about it — and keep asking as you work.
When we face a decision beyond our wisdom, our instinct is to think harder, gather more data, push through. James offers a different first move: ask God, who gives wisdom generously to those who request it.
When you last faced a decision beyond your wisdom, did you actually ask God for it — or just try to figure it out yourself?