Every biblical character seems to have qualities that are good and bad, we can derive those qualities to apply it in our lives now.
We all know Daniel for interpreting the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, and for his faithfulness demonstrated when was thrown in the lion’s den. But we need to understand the underlying qualities of Daniel, which made him the prophet he was.
One of the main qualities of Daniel that caught my attention was that: -
Daniel knew where to go for answers
The book of Daniel shows him to be a faithful man of God. When King Nebuchadnezzar threatened to destroy all the wise men if one of them didn’t tell him his dream and interpret it, Daniel and his friends asked for time so he and his three friends could …show more content…
Daniel trusted in God
In Daniel 6:23 “Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.” Perhaps there’s no greater description of this excellent leader. Because he trusted God, he was secure in his own identity. Because he trusted God, he knew the source of his wisdom. Because he trusted God, he was a man of great, uncompromising courage. He lived with integrity and prayed continually.
This unshakable trust is built through having a good relationship with God, it is said in Daniel 6:10 that he prayed 3 times a day. This constant communion with God builds a strong foundation of trust over a period of time, and in times of doubt and trail, this strong foundation of trust will get us through.
Margaret Feinberg says,
“When it comes to relying on God, we find comfort in knowing that God is with us. But that kind of with isn’t a distant and far off kind of presence; no, God is with us in the minutest details of our lives. Whatever we’re facing, God has a way of surprising us with his presence and reminding us that nothing escapes his …show more content…
Not everything in the leadership journey will go as planned or perfectly, it is very easy to lose heart during these times and may even end up questioning our call as leaders. But with a strong relationship and trust like Daniel will get us through the toughest times
This type of understanding about Gods presence and confidence in God seems to be very essential in a leaders life.
Conclusion
John Piper defines spiritual leadership as -
“Knowing where God wants people to be and taking the initiative to use God’s methods to get them there in reliance on God’s power. The answer to where God wants people to be is in a spiritual condition and lifestyle that display his glory and honor his name.”
Good and bad leadership qualities can be learnt from biblical figures and non-biblical figures throughout history. Some of these qualities can be applied even today by understanding the different contexts and situations, which we function in.
But we always need the wisdom and the guidance of God to be led to lead people just as Daniel was