After we went to the beach, I felt like God was calling me to a fast. Jeff (Goins) had sent me an email talking about the fast he was calling for, but I didn’t see fasting for as long as he was saying. I knew the fast needed to be longer than one day, but I had no idea how long. Then for some reason, I felt God was telling me to study Daniel. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to study the book or the man. So, I did both, by study I mean do a quick read of it. I meant to do that in depth, but am now reading about King Saul.
I am also working through the book by Dan Allendar “Leading with a Limp”. I have realized just how much I need to learn about leadership. What I am learning about leadership, and have known for a while, in theory, is character. I have read plenty of stuff by Covey, and Maxwell, other books on leadership and “How to Win Friends and Influence People”, and have all been interesting. I read a book on leadership based on the “Endurance” expedition, on Shackleton. Good stuff. I have prayed for years for God to develop my character.
In this spot right now, I am beginning to really see what God wants in a leader. Not necessarily what we think of as leadership, but what does God want from a leader. Humility? Honesty? Integrity? All words I know, but do I live this?
So I was led to Daniel. Eldredge’s book that I finished talked about men in general, and that few enter the King and Sage stage. In fact many get stuck in the cowboy (a wild life of proving yourself to yourself) or even the beloved son stage (pampering themselves and living selfish, buying a lot of toys). But, I don’t want that to be me. I don’t want to lay on my death bed and have regrets. I don’t want to be any less than I was meant to be. Eldredge believes God intended for all men to go through these stages, and become a Sage, where they have life experience and character to share. CHARACTER to share. So, that is where I am, realizing the need to have my character developed.
In “Leading with a Limp” Allendar talks about what a leader should expect. The trials. Loneliness. Betrayal. He says we need to begin with the knowledge that we are the “chief sinner” of what ever group we are leading. Allendar talks alot about Paul, but I was led to Daniel.
I had never thought much about Daniel until now. Samson, David, other great warriors, but really only new Daniel and the lion’s den, dreams, and eating a certain diet. So I read Daniel. After reading Daniel, I realize what an incredible standard he sets for men. His whole life. Integrity. I don’t think he did anything wrong, like my heros. I realized his hunger for God. His discipline in pursuing God. His whole life. The way God used him to influence history. Great Empires. How can anyone who feels called to leadership not hold him up as an incredible standard? How can anyone who wants to pursue God not study Daniel?
So, I was led to Daniel and have been doing a moderate Daniel fast for 4 days. I still have coffee. I had chocolate milk today. But skipping the egg sandwiches this morning and the hamburgers tonight was painful. I have also decided not to ask for any changes in the meals to accomodate me, and will eat beans when they are there, but am staying away from starches and fried stuff. So today I have had juice, and a couple of tangerines, the coffee and chocolate. All this fasting is kind of crazy to me.
In my life, I have fasted a couple of times. I fasted for a wife. That was the biggest thing. Fasted for the wife that God has for me. I believe God answered those prayers and fasts. Linnea is so undeserved. But for the most part, I didn’t fast. Most of the people I know have never really fasted. I know a few who do, but for the most part, fasting was a foreign concept. I don’t know why. Jesus said “When you fast….”, when, not IF. Jesus simply expected his followers to fast. Jesus was all about having a party, and said when he was with his disciples, they would eat and drink. But a time was coming when he would leave them, then they would fast. How do we as christians say we follow and imitate Jesus? Paul said to imitate Jesus. Jesus fasted for 40 days. I have never done any kind of a fast for 40 days. I am assuming this fast won’t last for 40 days. My fast before training was supposed to be a month without beer or meat or dessert. I could hardly do that for three days. I had a rotating fast, and the biggest part was giving up TV.
So, I believe after reading Daniel that I will attempt this fast for 10 days. Jesus also said not to tell anyone when you are fasting, what do I do with that? Is that binding? I’m not sure, but Daniel was open about how he was called to eat, and so I will use his example. For 10 days, I am planning on pursuing Daniel’s life, as a test. What will God do in me? What will God say? I am hoping for wisdom to lead this team. I am praying for a heart broken for the people on my team. I am praying for a heart broken for people in general. I am also setting as a goal to pray 3 times a day, like Daniel did. Really pray, not simply be prayer, or one liners, but actually intercede for people. To intercede for my team, my friends, my family. What will happen?
