What Happens When We Yield To God? Something Miraculous

FOCUS 

Murrell argues for focused, intentional activity: identify what matters most, eliminate what distracts from it, and devote our limited time and energy to the things that produce lasting fruit. That message is particularly significant coming from Murrell. His ministry career has centered heavily on discipleship, leadership development, church planting, and multiplication. His experience with Victory Church in Manila and the broader Every Nation movement has reinforced his conviction that sustainable growth comes not from doing everything but from doing the right things consistently. His own description of the philosophy is strikingly simple: “Do less stuff” so that leaders can focus on what really matters—making disciples. 

1. The problem isn't necessarily that we work too hard—it is that we do too much. One of the most important distinctions in Murrell's philosophy is between working less and doing less. He isn't advocating laziness, passivity, or lowered standards. Rather, he challenges the assumption that every worthwhile opportunity deserves our participation. Leaders often become overwhelmed because they accumulate responsibilities without ever subtracting anything. A new ministry gets added. Another meeting is scheduled. Another program is launched. Another request is answered. Another opportunity appears. Eventually, the leader becomes extremely busy but increasingly ineffective. Murrell's solution is subtraction. The question is not simply: What can I accomplish?
It is: What actually matters most—and what needs to be eliminated so I can give myself fully to it?

2. Focus is more important than activity. A central theme is therefore focus. Murrell's subtitle—Focus on What Matters—captures the heart of the book. The objective isn't to create an empty calendar. The objective is to create a purposeful calendar. There is a profound difference between being busy and being fruitful.

A busy person can spend an entire day responding to other people's priorities. A focused person determines what his or her most important responsibilities are and protects time for those responsibilities. For Murrell, this is particularly important for leaders. Leadership requires the ability to distinguish between: what is urgent and what is important, what is good and what is essential, what the leader should personally do and what someone else should do, what produces temporary activity and what produces lasting fruit. The mature leader therefore becomes comfortable saying no to things that don't contribute to the central mission.

THE ONE THING 

“The phrase one thing is recorded five times in the Bible,” Murrell points out.  “They are all similar, but nuanced.  The big idea is to eliminate the other things, to focus on the one thing that matters most in your context.  These five one thing stories have helped me focus and eliminate the unnecessary.  Here are the five one thing stories in biblical order:”

•    One thing to desire.  One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple (Psalm 27:4 KJV).

•    One thing you lack.  You lack one thing: Go, sell all that you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me (Mark 1-:21). 

•    One thing is necessary. One thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the good portion… (Luke 10:42).  

•    One thing I know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see (John 9:25). 

•    One thing I do.  One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14). 

“No need for multiple desires and pursuits, just the one thing that matters: His presence.  Everybody lacks things that seem important, but only one thing truly matters: full surrender to Jesus.  A million needs demand our attention, but only one thing is necessary: sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to Him.  We will never know enough but we can know the one thing that is essential: our own testimony (I was blind, now I see).  We can never do everything that needs to be done, but we can do the one thing that encompasses all other ministry work: pursue the call of God in Christ,” he says.    

LEADERSHIP: WHAT, WHO, HOW?

“What do leaders do?” Murrell asks. “For leaders who want to do less and accomplish more the answer is obvious.  So obvious that many miss it. Leaders lead. That’s it. One word. One task. One job. One goal. Not a list of six or twenty-one. One.”  He goes on to pose three questions that help give definition to the role of a leader:

•    What do you lead?  “It is important to know exactly what I lead and what I don’t lead. There is a radical difference in planning, execution, and follow-up when I am the board chair versus when I’m a board member.  Lead what you are responsible for leading and support the leader of what you are not responsible for leading,” he advises. “Every leader must know exactly what he or she leads and what he or she does not.  And every leader must stop trying to lead what someone else leads.”  

•    Who do you lead?  “Ultimately, ministry leadership is about leading people,” Murrell reminds us. “Yes, we lead churches, departments, projects, and events, but we do so by leading people.  Leading projects, events, and meetings is much easier than leading people.  I have never offended or been offended by a project.  I have never hurt the feelings of an event.  I have never been disrespected by a meeting. People are sensitive and insensitive at the same time.  Leading humans is not easy, but it must be done.  Leading people well starts with identifying exactly who I am responsible for leading.”  

•    How do you lead? “Because we lead people, not organizations and teams, we do as much face-to-face leadership as is possible in a global ministry,” Murrell says.  Referring again to the global nature of the Every Nation Churches and Ministries team, he says, “This necessitates a team leadership approach, along with massive amounts of trust and communication and a high level of CCO and department head empowerment.  The order is important.  First, the what, then the who, then the how.  When we discern the right answers to these three leadership questions, we are well on our way to doing less.”

STRENGTHEN WITH WORDS

“While leaders around the world might have different levels of resources and tools, everyone, no matter their context, has unlimited access to the most powerful tool for strengthening disciples and churches: words,” Murrell says.  Every leader can and should use words of encouragement and truth to strengthen disciples and churches.  But first, we must use words to strengthen ourselves, then others, he says.  

MAKE A SUCCESSION PLAN 

“Ignoring succession planning it disturbingly foolish and short-sighted.  Why?  Because no one leads forever.  No matter what your current ministry role is, there will come a day when someone will step in to succeed you.  The wise and humble leader will intentionally plan for that inevitability.  He recommends a three-step strategy for succession planning:

•    Prepare emerging leaders to lead the organization. 

•    Prepare the organization to be led by emerging leaders. 

•    Prepare experienced leaders to finish well.    

To learn more about Steve Murrell's Church, Every Nation, click the LINK!

To learn more about Steve Murrell and to purchase his latest book, Do Less, Accomplish More, click the LINK!

CREDITS

Author, latest, Do Less, Accomplish More (Every Nation Resources, 2026) / co-founder and president of Every Nation Churches and Ministries, with churches in 85 nations / founding pastor of Victory Church Manila, one church that meets in 125 locations in the Philippines / preaching coach and professor of Pastoral Theology at Every Nation Seminary / Married to Deborah, three grown sons, ten adored grandchildren