As Christians, we are firstly followers of Christ. Our Lord is meant to be the biggest element of our life. We are to keep Him at the forefront of every aspect of our lives, we are to keep Him at the centre of our thoughts, conversations and interactions. In short, as bearers of His light and word to the world, we are called to dedicate our entire being to Jesus Christ, as an act of Worship.
‘“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”.’ – Isaiah 55:8-9
I recently read an article about being “data-driven” vs “analytics-driven”. The article claimed that the phrase “data-driven” is dangerous because it doesn’t recognise the work of data analysts. It said in a data-driven organisation, analysts fetch data and in an analytics driven organisation, analysts find answers. Being insights-led goes even further to recognise the significance of Spirit-led insights. In my data analysis role, I’m doing more than filling in spreadsheets, creating complicated formulas or building impressive workflows and pretty slides, I’m scrutinising and praying over the data. In doing so I can trust that I will uncover insights that will bring a heavenly blessing to our clients.
The Lord is calling us into a different dimension and praise be to God this isn’t limited to Sundays only, we can experience this every single day.
I don’t take for granted the power of praying over my work and clients. Even better still, I don’t even need to know what to ask for. This means that I may not always be able to measure how much more the Spirit has led me to, but this shouldn’t stop me from sharing testimony when I work from faith.
‘Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,’ – Ephesians 3:20
In praying for our clients, I take care to pray with watchfulness. This often begins in the early stages of the relationship, by listening and understanding, not just their business needs but any additional information that may be able to guide how I pray and support them practically. I emphasise our insights-led strategy to our clients because we know it is able to set our work apart from that which is data- or even analytics-driven. Any consultancy could provide generic strategy to a health stakeholder client, but by listening to, praying over and understanding our clients I can give them something more excellent; not just in data but in a holistic and valuable relationship. This transformation beyond a worldly understanding builds confidence in our own insight, helping myself and my team to grow both personally and professionally in our careers.
‘Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will’.
Romans 12:2
By serving in excellence of character and skill we point towards the love and glory of Christ. As Christians, we have the mind of Christ, so why shouldn’t we implement it in our work?
“This is what we speak, not in words taught to us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. […] But we have the mind of Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 2:13,16
Learn more about the Worship. Works Graduate Programmes here.