Why does a leader need a God-given vision? Ryan Johnson, the author of Visionary Leadership, writes, “Vision represents the inspiring picture of the future that God has placed in the hearts of leaders…it serves as a guiding revelation that shapes a leader’s ministry and overall life. Visions carry inherent purpose and thoughtfully reflect the plans intended for any church or organization.”[1]
A vision guides God’s spiritual leader in shaping ministries and prepares the Church to thrive in the world. “Since leadership is built on a foundation of personal spiritual growth, character formation, and its alignment to the corporate and personal calling of God, a leader must seek the Lord’s vision for their lives.”[2] As a spiritual leader, you can nurture your relationship with Christ through spiritual disciplines. These disciplines will bring you closer to God and help you discern His voice regarding the purpose for your life and ministry. Habakkuk 2:2 says, “ And the Lord answered me: Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he who reads it may run. God instructed Habakkuk to write down the prophecy received so it could be preserved and shared for future generations. It is when a leader prioritizes their time to meet with God regularly and intentionally that God can bring forth through his prophetic voice clarity and vision. “As you focus on setting aside time to seek the Lord, you will become stronger in hearing God’s voice. Expect personal growth and development, through your relationship with God, your ability to hear His voice will increase, and you will gain spiritual authority through prayer and in other spiritual aspects of ministry.”[3] Understand that your spiritual growth and your ability to lead others flow directly from you seeking the Lord. Seeking the Lord allows you to overcome the pressures that are associated with leadership. You become an inspiration to others.
God raises prophetic people and leaders throughout the Scriptures. In the New Testament, men and women served as intercessors, prophetesses, and prophetic figures. God seeks leaders who can envision a future aligned with His purpose for the church by seeing the potential for what they can accomplish through Him. Visionary leaders are essential to making arduous decisions and guiding God’s people through unfamiliar places. “As a visionary leader, you are to surround yourself with advisors, mentors, and peers who have wisdom and leadership ability.”[4] By prioritizing your relationships and building a culture of trust, collaboration is built. Craig Groeschel says, “It is vision that guides, motivates, and compels people to move in the same direction.”[5] Remember, your success and value as a leader come from being a daughter of God; your goal is to align your will with God’s kingdom purpose for your life. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” So, keep your vision current. “When a ministry loses its vision, it is only a matter of time before it loses what made it special to begin with.”[6] In Esther 4:14, Mordecai warns Esther of this: “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Mordecai had a vision for the people. Before a leader can accomplish great works for God, one must have received a God-given vision for the work God has called you to accomplish. Your vision will help you persevere during the challenging times as you are building God’s kingdom.
Bibliography
Groeschel, Craig. Lead Like It Matters Seven Leadership Principles for a Church That Lasts. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2022.
Johnson, Ryan. Visionary Leadership Navigating Purpose, Growth, and Change in the Body of Christ. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2020.
[1] Ryan Johnson, Visionary Leadership: Navigating Purpose, Growth, and Change in the Body of Christ (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2024), 149.
[2] Ibid., 21-24.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.,48.
[5] Craig Groechel, Lead Like It Matters: 7 Principles for a Church That Lasts, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Books, 2022), 38.
[6] Ibid.
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