Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds – Psalm 72:18
This final word in Psalm 72 highlights something else that is especially pertinent for those of us in leadership. It is a critical reminder with two parts. The first part is this: even with all of our efforts and plans, God “alone does marvelous deeds.” I am not the source of the marvelous deeds that I may see in my life, ministry, or church. God is the source. Even if I am the one most visibly attached to success, it is God who is the source. A clear conclusion we can draw from that truth is that God is the one to be praised…not me or you.
There is another part to this statement for those of us in leadership, and it has to do with our perspective: our ministry does not depend on us. As we expend energy and make strategic plans, there is only One who will make that energy useful and bring success from those plans. Again, God “alone does marvelous deeds.” If there will be marvelous results from our energy and plans it is because of God. Does this mean we stop expending energy or planning? Absolutely not! As we get active and make plans, though, we should do so with prayerful reliance on the only One will bring something ‘marvelous’ from us.
God alone does marvelous deeds.
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Matthew Erickson 
I’m currently reading Eric Metaxas’ new biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and he summarized one of Bonhoeffer’s early sermons in such a way that resonates with what you are saying, Matt. Metaxas writes:
“It is the perfectly logical conclusion … that apart from God’s grace, one can do nothing worthwhile. Anything good must come from God, so even in a sermon that was poorly written and delivered, God might manifest himself and touch the congregation. Conversely in a sermon wonderfully written and delivered, God might refuse to manifest himself. The ‘success’ of the sermon is utterly dependent on the God who breaks through and ‘grasps’ us, or we cannot be ‘grasped’.” (Bonhoeffer, p. 80)
Jesus reminds us of this in John 15:5: “apart from me you can do nothing”.
We work and plan and labor and love, but it is Christ alone that makes it good.
Thank you, Matt, for helping show Brooklife Church the centrality of Christ in all things!
Jim