1. Leadership in Our Sphere of Influence

“Everyone is a leader because everyone influences someone.”, said John C. Maxwell. When I was at IBM, the head of our AT&T client account used to say, “Leadership can be summed up in two sentences: When you are in charge, take charge. And do what is right”.

God created us humans in His image (Genesis 1:26) and asked us to look after His creation (Genesis 1:28). That makes us participants in God’s program for His creation and it is a great dignity (and responsibility) that God has conferred on us. We all have our spheres of influence (at some level or the other, in some context or the other) which we have to handle well by doing what is right.

2. Prayer

Prayer is the expression of our participation in God’s program for the world, and the desire/intent to rightly handle our life situations, problems, challenges, responsibilities, relationships, and in our spheres of influence. So in prayer, we have fellowship with God, communicate with God, make our petitions, ask for guidance, wisdom, direction for right action, help, deliverance, etc.

3. Following God in Darkest Times

Four times in Psalm 13, David asks, “How long?”. So as we pray and participate in God’s project for our lives and His creation, we have to wait with expectation, assurance, trust, confidence because we have the inward witness of the Spirit of God (Romans 8:16).

4. God’s Guidance in Decision Making

God knows how to answer the prayer (even if we don’t at times) and He will eventually do His work. God says in Isaiah 30:21: Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it”. That is the hope and assurance we have – through life’s ups and downs.