Micromanaging often stems from worry that the task won’t be accomplished right, at least not to our standards, or in a timely fashion. God, however, exhorts us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Phil. 4:6).
That, however, doesn’t mean we take a hands-off approach, like once delegated, it’s no longer our problem. We find many commands to pray for one another as well as many examples of prayers for those serving and being served. We should care about how the task gets accomplished. We should care about how we approach this process and how we prepare others for the task.
So, if enveloping delegation in prayer eliminates a need to micromanage and it doesn’t mean we take a hand-off approach, what does it mean? — Go to the next verse for what happens when we pray about our concerns: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7)
Envelop Delegation in Prayer Rather than Micromanage or Take a Hands-Off Approach
Let’s follow the example of Jesus who spent the night in prayer prior to choosing twelve disciples to be His apostles (Lk. 6:12-13). Scripture does not specify the content of His prayer but on this occasion, and many others, He communed with the Father. He yielded to the will of the Father in all things (Lk. 22:42; Jn. 5:19-20). Let’s be Christ-like and envelop all we do, including delegation, in prayer.
We should ask God for wisdom (James 1:5) …
- for ourselves about the right person to approach, about what training would be necessary for the person to do the task to the glory of God, and any other concerns we might have.
- for the person to whom we’re delegating that they would use time well, know how to best accomplish the task, and when to ask for help if needed.
We should ask God for power and grace (Heb. 4:16) …
- for ourselves to release our anxiety to Him and to trust Him with the process.
- for the person to whom we’re delegating to have the right heart attitudes and to do whatever they do to the glory of God.
Of course, we should get specific and personal in these prayers as regards our own difficulties in delegating and the needs of those to whom we’re delegating. And, we should continue to pray through the entire process.
For more about praying, go to: Prayer Resources for Church Leaders
All Posts about Decision-Making:
- Making Decisions That Line Up
- Decision-Making Questions for Lining Up
- If You Find Yourself Making All the Decisions
- Pluses & Minuses of Getting Others Involved in Decision Making
- Who Makes the Final Decision?
- Stifled in Decision-Making?
- Rushed Decisions
- Delayed Decisions
- Derailed Decisions
- Retrofitted Decisions
- Decisions Reveal Faith in God’s Power?
- Decisions You Don’t Have to Be Ashamed to Make
- Decisions Examined at Foot of the Cross
- Making Decisions from a Place of Humility
- Making Wise Decisions
- Making Decisions Void of Legalism
- Foolish Not to Pray
- Wisdom & Discernment Needed
- Decisions from a Renewed Mind
- Equipped for Making Good Decisions
- The Spirit Helps Us Make the Right Decisions, the Right Way
- The Spirit Provides Guidance and Wisdom in Decision-Making
- Decisions Worthy of Bearing His Name
- Strongholds Affecting Decision-Making
- How to Demolish Strongholds So We Make the Best Decisions
- Protection for the Decision-Making Process
- Decisions Made from Our Raised Position