By David Sena | BoldLeading.com
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
— Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)
When I first became an executive director, I knew two things for sure: I loved the people we served, and I was in way over my head.
I had only been at the mission for two years when nearly all our staff transitioned out. Suddenly, I was the one with the most experience. I was trying to raise money, balance the books, lead a team, and work with a board—all at once. I needed help. I needed God.
Prayer became my lifeline—but so did learning and action.
I knew that faithful prayer didn’t replace faithful preparation—it fueled it. I needed God to show me what I didn’t know and give me the wisdom to take the next step forward.
That’s where the heart of Bold Leading’s approach was born: Pray. Learn. Act.
God’s Bigger Plan
Over the years, I’ve come back again and again to Ephesians 2:10:
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
If God led me to the mission, then His plan was bigger than my knowledge or confidence. I didn’t have to know everything—I just had to walk faithfully in what He had already prepared.
During my thirteen years at the shelter in Grand Forks, I learned to rely on my neighbors and other leaders in the community. Together, we housed more than 120 people a night and managed a five-story, 50,000-square-foot building. Looking back, it was clear: every success was a combination of divine guidance and diligent work.
That’s what Pray. Learn. Act. looks like—trusting God’s plan, gaining wisdom through experience, and taking faithful steps forward.
Prayer and Practice—Working Together
I’ve seen many ministries rely on prayer and God’s guidance to meet real needs. Yet the urgency of taking one more call or helping one more person often crowds out the need to plan, organize, and recruit.
But prayer and structure are not opposites—they are partners. God often answers prayers through the systems, people, and plans we put in place with His wisdom.
Sometimes we pray for what we know we need. But over time, I’ve learned to pray for what I don’t know I need. That’s where faith and leadership truly blend—when we invite God into the spaces between our plans and then act with courage.
Pray for what you don’t know you need. Learn what you can. Act on what you know.
A Word for Executive Directors
A Word for Executive Directors
If you’re leading a ministry, you might feel that same tension: the desire to serve faithfully, the pressure to figure it all out, and the urgency to get the work done.
Remember—you don’t have to know everything. You just have to walk today in what God has already prepared for you—and provided to you.
Pray. Learn. Act.
Pray for what you don’t know you need.
Learn from the people and situations God places around you.
Act on what He’s already shown you—and trust that He’s ahead of you in what’s next.
Final Word
A Prayer for Leaders Walking in Faith and Action:
Lord,
Thank You for the calling You’ve placed on my life and the work You’ve entrusted to me.
Teach me to rely on You in prayer, to grow in wisdom through learning, and to act with courage when You show the way.
Fill in the gaps I cannot see, strengthen the plans that honor You, and remind me that every success belongs to You alone.
May my leadership bring glory to Your name and good to the people You love.In Jesus’ name, amen.
Call to Action
Think about your work—the demands of your role, the urgent needs that take time away from planning and organizing again and again, the places or plans in which you feel less confident. Now ask yourself:
Have I taken time to commit all my work to the Lord?
When I pray, am I waiting for and trusting in His wisdom and provision, or simply checking the prayer/blessing box and moving on?
Where can carving out time to create a system, spreadsheet, or meeting agenda—or scheduling consistent time for planning, prayer, or even a daily lunch break make a tangible difference in stress, efficiency, and time management moving forward?
Is there someone that can provide guidance, feedback, mentorship in areas of uncertainty?
What next actions can I take in faith, even if the outcome or big picture isn’t clear?
If you believe God gives wisdom generously to all who ask (James 1:5), ask for much wisdom with great boldness. Then trust He’ll provide it as you move forward and act. You’ll be glad you did.
About Bold Leading
At Bold Leading, we believe God-sized dreams require prayerful dependence and practical action. Our blended approach—Pray. Learn. Act.—helps leaders find clarity, strategy, and peace in their calling.
If you’re ready to move forward with confidence—or just need a fellow leader to pray and think with—consider connecting with Dave Sena, an ordained minister and nonprofit enthusiast with nearly thirty years of ministry experience.
Contact: dave@boldleading.com
Visit: BoldLeading.com
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
—Proverbs 16:3