Daily Devotional

Leader Life: Are You Focused?

by Jack Graham

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If I could borrow the phrase from Dean Martin, “everybody loves somebody sometime,” I’d change it to “everybody leads somebody sometime.” We all have the responsibility to lead and influence those around us—either positively or negatively—in our homes, families, marriages, careers, and relationships. And we’re all given the opportunity to make a difference in our lives and in the lives of others.

I consider my leadership responsibility the most important thing in my life because: I am a husband and have the responsibility of loving and leading my wife; I am a father and have the responsibility of leading and raising our children; and I am a pastor and have the responsibility of sharing the message of truth and biblical wisdom to my congregation.

It’s been said that human history is record of mass accomplishment under leadership. And through the years, we’ve heard it said: “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” I believe, without question, the first and foremost indispensable quality of leadership is focus, which is commonly called vision.

In the Old Testament, Solomon said something so true: “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” (Proverbs 29:18). Where there is no vision, there’s no accomplishment. Where there is no accomplishment, there’s no meaning. Where there is no meaning, there’s no hope. And where there is no hope, people perish.

If you have a vision for the people you lead in an organization, church, ministry, or marketplace, you will enable them to flourish. If we can help enough people to get where they want in life, we will discover that we’re getting where we want to get in life as well. We don’t just go alone. The goal is to encourage and equip those around us.

Here are a few definitions by others I’ve collected that define the term “vision:”

• “Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.” –Jonathan Swift
• “Vision is a clear mental portrait of the future.” –George Barna
• “Vision is a goal-oriented mental construct that guides people’s behavior.” –Bert Nanus
• “What you see is what you get!” –Flip Wilson

I’m reminded of the layman in the Bible who had a dynamic vision for the people of Israel. In 587 BC, tragedy struck the people of Israel. The Babylonians attacked and plundered their great city of Jerusalem and took into captivity the Jewish people for 70 years.

After those 70 years, a remnant of the people was released to go back into the city of Jerusalem. When they returned, they found that the great and magnificent walls that surrounded the ancient city were down, along with their Temple. Imagine it—they’re living and walking every day in the remains, the refuse, and the rubble of the worst experience of their lives!

It must be much like the recent events and after-effects that Hurricane Katrina left behind. I’m sure the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are now walking through what used to be their homes that are now nothing but rubble. How devastating it must be!

When Nehemiah, a Jew and trusted servant of the king, got word of the condition of Jerusalem and Israelites, he buckled. He went to his knees in brokenness—weeping, praying, and crying out to God. He was so burdened for God’s people that a vision was born in his heart. He saw what no one else did—that the walls could be rebuilt, the city restored, and the people once again revived in their national passion and spiritual commitments.

God gave Nehemiah a vision and focus for the future that absolutely changed the history of the nation. It all begins when we dare to intervene, intercede, and get involved in reworking and rebuilding. Nehemiah began “visioneering,” and he was ultimately able to lead the children of Israel to restoration and revival in just 52 days. It’s one of the most remarkable stories of vision.

George Bernard Shaw said, “Some men see things as they are and say, ‘Why?’ I dream of things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” That’s what happened that day to Nehemiah. He began to see what nobody else could see—a flourishing city and a vision fulfilled.

In 1992, I read a fantastic book by Bert Nanus on leadership. In it he gave five qualities or characteristics of visionary leadership. When I read them, it reminded me of Nehemiah. According to Nanus, focused leaders attract commitment and energize people, create meaning in worker’s lives, establish a standard of excellence, build bridges to the future, and transcend the status quo.

In order to develop a vision for your life and ministry you must pray it, process it, picture it, personalize it, and pursue it. A vision is not something you can hold on to; it’s something that holds on to you! You can’t let it go if you try, and that’s how you know it’s from the Lord. Share it with others, so they can begin to see what God has put in your heart and believe in your vision, dream, and passion.

Don’t you want God to do something in your life? Don’t you want to have a vision? What do you see today? What is your vision and focus in life? Everybody leads somebody. Your influence starts with your vision.