Old Testament Leadership Principle
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Daniel Principle: Leaders should be people of prayer, fasting, and leaders should be total dependent on God. Key Verses: Daniels 9:3 “So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I wore rough sackcloth and sprinkled myself with ashes.” Explanation/Illustration of the Principle Leaders should be people of prayer and fasting when times become hard, Daniel was a man after God’s heart even when his life was in danger. “19Daniel is one of the Bible holiest and wisest men”. Daniel was taken into captivity with the Israelites. Daniel and his friends were thrown into the fire, while they did not weaver at the threat of death upon their lives, by king Nebuchadnezzar. Leaders should be steadfast in what they belief to be true. Sometimes when leaders change sides in matters of loyalty and trust, it is very important to be loyal to God and also to the people whom they served. Daniel in time of crisis went on his knees for God direction concerning the threat of death by Nebuchadnezzar, and in return God intervene in his problems. Sometimes as leaders in today’s world, there is a need to depend on God when things become tough. Just by learning from Daniel’s situation, leaders can see that times after times, when people go to God in prayer and fasting with right motive, God does listen to people’s prayer. Daniel went to God in prayer and fasting, because his life was in danger, and for that reason, God did not allow his enemies to take away his life. Today there are many situations where
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Andrew Knowles. The Bible Guide: An all-in-one introduction to the book of books. (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg, 2001) p. 343.