It can be perilous to lead. We may be surrounded by critics who love to magnify our every mistake. We may face aggressive competitors who are eager for us to make one misstep. Temptations abound. There may be those who speak evil about us and to us. Even the best-intentioned leader can fall as a result of the machinations of evil people.
The key to successfully navigating through an evil world is discretion. Discretion is applying God’s wisdom to our specific circumstances. It is being wise, rather than naive. It is striving for what is best but keenly aware of the worst that people can do. It entails avoiding placing ourselves in compromising, no-win situations. Using discretion protects us from being put in a corner where there is no escape.
Many leaders cry out to God for deliverance when their enemies are surrounding them and their circumstances are overwhelming them. Yet discretion protects leaders from getting into that situation in the first place.
Discretion comes from depending upon the Lord’s guidance throughout the day and not just during our morning devotions. It results from resisting the temptation of making decisions rashly or without proper counsel. Discretion originates from listening to the Holy Spirit’s voice when He makes you uneasy about a proposal or an opportunity that looks too good to be true. It comes from expecting the best but preparing for the worst. It also results from doing our homework!
Are you a leader who is known for your discretion? Or, are you constantly stumbling from one crisis to the next as a result of regularly making hurried and careless decisions? We live in confusing, evil, and complex days. In such times, discretion for leaders is mandatory.