(a chapter from the section, New Wine for New Wineskins, of my book, Heaven on Earth)
There was once I was a computer programmer and software engineer. I graduated from university as an electrical engineer with bits of computer science, but I got my first job as a software engineer in a good company. As I was working as a young computer programmer, I suddenly received the gift of strategic leadership. That was grace. It seemed that I could see inspired big picture effortlessly. Thinking back, I realize now that was God sharing His thoughts with me. As I started operating in the spiritual gifts of strategic leadership, I was not able to do computer programming at the same time because strategic leadership is very high level and big picture whereas computer programming is very low level and entrenched in details. My bosses had wanted me to do both computer programming and strategic leadership, and I became very stressed and overworked. I started to look for an open door in strategic leadership but the door would not open. The Lord let me practice strategic leadership many times for the benefit of my employers, and then He called me into full time ministry. I had the idea that full time ministry naturally meant being a pastor, but it seemed that the Lord had other ideas. The pastor door never opened. Neither would any other door. So I was forced to wait for a while until God moved.
Strategic leadership, the way the Lord taught me, is inspired big picture thinking way of problem solving. It is a qualitative approach as there is no financial modeling involved, but requires a lot of my intuition and thinking from the heart. It is a more Melbourne – type approach to leadership. The Sydney – style is more quantitative and hard-nosed and financial modeling driven.
As a spiritual gift, I am unable to exactly articulate how strategic leadership works. It is more like a craft that had been perfected over time. It is like a muscle. The more I exercise it, the stronger it becomes. And the Father leads because there are a lot of lives at stake.
I guess what I am doing here is trying to impart the gift of strategic leadership. It requires being in the world but not of it. It requires gathering information on the ground. It requires being able to see ahead with clarity. It requires being able to see potential with our eyes of faith. It requires being able to solve real live problems with the Word of God. It requires the prophetic unction to be able to call things that are not as though they are. It requires being open to the God eureka moments when the unexpected inspired solution bubbles up through my heart. It requires being able to hear God clearly for inspired wisdom.
As I walk in step with Father, He leads and I don’t have to byte off more than I can chew. I am challenged, but comfortable. And step by step, I grow in capacity into all that God has called me to do. The pace is challenging, but comfortable, moving forward relentlessly. I have been growing in strategic leadership for over 20 years now.
When I lead, I step boldly forward in faith. I can only do that knowing that God is backing me. It is important for me to confirm that God is backing me. God is always backing the Word of God.
May the grace and peace of Abba Father the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Thank You, Abba Father, Lord Jesus Christ.
In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Word Sabre, scribe for Abba Father, LORD GOD, Lord Most High, Lord Jesus Christ.