Integrity Ideas are specific actions a leader can consider during the Re-Align step of Integriosity^®–actions that will begin to Re-Align the organization with Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities.  You can find more Integrity Ideas at Integrous | Integrity Ideas (integriosity.com)

INTEGRITY IDEA: Be Quiet

“Be Quiet” is about a faithful leader of an organization setting aside quiet time each day to listen for God’s guidance in how to faithfully steward the organization. It is also about encouraging others in the organization to set aside quiet time and putting in place practices to facilitate praying and listening.

Integrity Ideas are practical actions toward implementing a bigger WHY for the organization.  We believe some are critical (and necessary) steps in the RENEW/RE-ALIGN/RE-IMAGINE/RESTORE process.  Others are just ideas to be considered if they feel like a good fit based on what leaders prayerfully discern is best for stewarding the organization toward its WHY.

We believe “Be Quiet” is important for every faithful leader seeking to steward faithfully.  Because leading with faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing is counter-cultural and is likely to meet challenges, listening quietly for God’s wisdom is critical for navigating those challenges.

“Be Quiet” recognizes that stewardship requires decisions, faithful and wise stewardship requires faithful and wise decisions, and the same God who calls leaders to lead faithfully through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing will be present to guide, equip and protect those who are called. It also recognizes that God is the source of all wisdom, and hearing God’s wisdom requires listening.

The Need for God’s Wisdom

Oswald Chambers warns:

Don’t plan without God. . . . We get ourselves into circumstances that were not chosen by God, and suddenly we realize that we have been making our plans without Him—that we have not even considered Him to be a vital, living factor in the planning of our lives.

The Bible is full of guidance on the topic of leaders failing to seek God’s guidance.  Here are just a few:

But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward. (Jeremiah 7:24)

For the shepherds are stupid and do not inquire of the Lord; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered. (Jeremiah 10:21)

So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the Lord. (Joshua 9:14)

Because people of Biblical faith are citizens of the Kingdom of God living in exile in the kingdom of the world–in the world but “not of the world”–leading with faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing will inevitably encounter resistance and dilemmas and require taking risks.

In his book To Change the World, James Hunter effectively warns that leading in alignment with Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities “will invariably challenge the given structures of the social order.”   He goes on: “In this light, there is no true leadership without putting at risk one’s time, wealth, reputation, and position.

In each case, a leader will be facing those challenges with both hands tied behind their back (and possibly blindfolded with their feet bound) without taking the time to “Be Quiet” and listen for God’s guidance.

In post #091 (Trust in God), we explored three types of challenges–resistance, dilemmas and risks–that will be faced by a faithful leader committed to leading with faithful integrity through business a better way.

Resistance.  Resistance to faithfully leading an organization through business a better way will come because it challenges the “given structures of the social order” in a fallen world of business as usual characterized by assumptions of Profit as Purpose, Scarcity and Self-Interest.  When a faithful leader implements “Be Quiet”, God can guide through that resistance.

Dilemmas.  Because an organization is operating in a fallen world, there may not be “easy answers” to organizational challenges–leaders are likely to be faced with choices that involve two imperfect alternatives.  When a faithful leader implements “Be Quiet”, God can provide creative “third-way” solutions to dilemmas, such as reconciling business a better way with profitable sustainability in the world’s systems.

Risks.  Risks are necessary when facing resistance and resolving dilemmas in line with Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities.  When faithful leaders implement “Be Quiet”, God’s wisdom can help navigate those risks.

Although these challenges may come in the form of human resistance and resistance from worldly systems, the Bible tells us that these challenges are spiritual:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  (Ephesians 6:12)

Of course, even the faithful leader who has the humility to recognize the need for God’s wisdom will only get the benefit of that wisdom by taking the time to “Be Quiet” and listen for that wisdom.

The Promise of God’s Wisdom

We believe that if God calls a leader to lead an organization, God will make available the wisdom needed for the leader to lead in alignment with Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities.

In his book Why Business Matters to God, Jeff Van Duzer rightly suggests that the same God who calls leaders to lead faithfully through business a better way will be present to equip those who are called:

We are not expected to fulfill the creation and redemption mandates in business relying solely on our own wisdom, judgment and perseverance. The same God who calls us to these high standards provides us with access to the discernment and power that will enable us to fulfill them.

We only need to look at the example of Bezalel and Oholiab.  God called them to a task and gave them all they needed to complete it:

See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you. (Exodus 31:2-6)

Also consider these passages:

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:21)

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. (Jeremiah 3:33)

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him. (Ephesians 1:17)

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (John 16:13)

The “Be Quiet” Example of Jesus

A faithful leader committed to seeking and hearing God’s wisdom on leading with faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing needs to listen to God’s voice, and God’s voice may be the “still, small voice” or “low whisper” of 1 Kings 19:12.

Jesus was committed to doing only the Father’s will and modeled “Be Quiet” in listening to the Father’s voice.

But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. (Luke 5:16)

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. (Mark 1:35)

And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. (Matthew 14:23)

A.W. Tozer wrote, “Whoever will listen will hear the speaking Heaven“.

Ed Kobel, President and COO of Debartolo Development, tells the story of hearing God’s wisdom prior to the 2008 financial crisis.  In his quiet time, he heard God tell him there would be a real estate correction.  This was confirmed through seeing land prices in Florida increasing to what he believed were unsustainable levels.  Debartolo sold 95% of their properties before the correction and was able to redeploy the funds to purchase properties at a discount later in 2008.

CONTINUUM: Practices

The Integriosity model organizes “heart change” along six Covert-Overt Continuums.  There is nothing magic about these categories, but we believe they are helpful in thinking about practical execution of a Re-Imagined Purpose, Re-Imagined Values and a Re-Imagined Culture.  The Continuums are Prayer, Proclamation, Policies, Practices, Products, People.

Each Continuum represents an area in which leaders can begin to think about, plan and institute Re-Alignment changes to the heart of the organization.

“Be Quiet” is on the Practices Continuum. Practices reflect, and at the same time help shape and reinforce, an organization’s culture.

COVERT-OVERT RATING: Very Covert

The Integriosity model breaks the Covert-Overt Continuums into six gradations–from Highly Covert to Highly Overt–that we believe are helpful in beginning to pray and think about what is most appropriate for an organization at a particular moment in time.

Most Integrity Ideas will have one place on the scale.  Some can vary depending on how they are implemented.   “Be Quiet” is Very Covert (an overtly faith-based action known only to the faithful leader).

“Be Quiet” can move to the overt end of the Continuum if the leaders of the organization choose to encourage others to set aside quiet time to hear wisdom from God.

STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees, Customers/Clients, Owners, Suppliers/Vendors, Community, Kingdom

When we categorize faith-based actions, we also consider the stakeholders principally impacted by the action: Employees, Customers/Clients, Owners, Suppliers/Vendors, Community and Kingdom.

“Be Quiet” serves all those touched by the organization, because it seeks wisdom for more faithful stewardship of the organization toward maximizing the Biblical flourishing of all those its touches–Employees, Customers/Clients, Owners, Suppliers/Vendors, and Community.

As a faithful leader leads faithfully through quiet times by listening for God’s wisdom, the example set by the leader and the organization in the way the leader leads and the organization conducts business in alignment with God’s design and guidance also impacts God’s Kingdom.

IMPLEMENTATION

Implementing “Be Quiet” is theoretically one of the easiest and inexpensive Integrity Ideas to implement.  We say “theoretically” because we live in a busy and noisy world.  Even as early as 1948 when he published The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer observed:

This is definitely not the hour when men take kindly to an exhortation to listen, for listening is not today a part of popular religion.  We are at the opposite end of the pole from there.  Religion has accepted the monstrous heresy that noise, size, activity and bluster make a man dear to God.

“Be Quiet” requires a few things from a faithful leader.  It requires:

• Crossing the Sacred/Secular Gap in order to recognize that God cares about work and business.

• The Humility to recognize the need for God’s voice.

• A commitment to set aside sufficient daily time to listen for God’s voice.

• A quiet place.

If a faithful leader encourages others to implement “Be Quiet” in their lives, a next step could be to “Segregate a Sacred Space” for employees to use.

If you are wondering how long to stay in a quiet place and listen, Ed Kobel of Debartolo suggests staying there until God dismisses you!

PERSONAL NOTE (from PM):  This post was inspired by a talk by Ed Kobel at the 2025 New Canaan Society National Retreat this past weekend.  Kobel’s topic was “Abiding”.  He identified four steps to living out the “abiding” called for in John 15:4-11: (1) daily quiet time, (2) journaling, (3) hearing, and (4) bearing fruit.  Kobel also shared a link to free training in learning to “abide.  Abide Now. Thank you Ed.

ESSENCE:  Integrity Ideas are specific practical actions a faithful leader can consider in leading faithfully through business a better way.

INTEGRITY IDEA: Be Quiet

“Be Quiet” is about a faithful leader of an organization setting aside quiet time each day to listen for God’s guidance in how to faithfully steward the organization in alignment with Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities. It is also about encouraging others in the organization to set aside quiet time and putting in place practices to facilitate praying and listening. “Be Quiet” recognizes that stewardship requires decisions, faithful and wise stewardship requires faithful and wise decisions, and the same God who calls leaders to lead faithfully through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing will be present to guide, equip and protect those who are called. It also recognizes that God is the source of all wisdom, and hearing God’s wisdom requires listening. 

COVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action): Practices

COVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Very Covert

STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees, Customers/Clients, Owners, Suppliers/Vendors, Community, Kingdom

Copyright © 2025 Integrous LLC.  Integriosity is a registered Service Mark of Integrous LLC.

Photo credit: Original image by Kristina Flour on Unsplash
(photo cropped)