John Stanko

"So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” - 1 Kings 3:9.

When Solomon discovered his purpose to lead Israel, he was confronted with the scope of the job and his inadequacy to fulfill it. What was his response? Did he go to school to get an MBA? Enlist a mentor? Appoint a more seasoned cabinet of advisors? There is nothing wrong with any of those steps for a leader, but Solomon chose none of them. Instead, he prayed and asked God to give him wisdom. It was this wisdom in response to his prayer that has been Solomon's best-known trait through the centuries, and it came as a result of prayer. Leaders must pay attention to all sorts of personal development strategies and practices, but there is none more important than prayer as they carry out their duties with full awareness of how much they need God's help.

LEADERSHIP STEP: Your Step today is to make prayer a higher priority in your daily regimen. When you realize your purpose requires more than you have to give, it should drive you to your knees. When do you pray? How long? Do you have a prayer list? For what and whom are you praying? As you reflect on these questions, also give thought to how you can deepen your prayer life. How can you increase your time in prayer? Have you considered a prayer retreat?