Daniel – “A Government Administrator”

A Series of Blogs on Marketplace Leaders 7/9/2023

I have reflected on Daniel in the Bible for the past two years. I think it is because I am an administrator at a university – not the career I planned, but one where I am experiencing God’s wisdom and favor. Daniel did not plan his career either, but God knew before he was born that he would be a Governor in a foreign land.

When we think of Daniel, we think of him being courageous with his faith and refusing the king’s “fancy food and wine” for a vegetarian diet. We think of how the king found him to be excellent in all his learning – highly intelligent. We think about his gifts of visions and dreams. We are impressed with his prophetic mantel and how he boldly gave words of God to kings and the nation. Mostly, we think of the lion’s den story where government bureaucrats were jealous and got him thrown into a pit. But God showed up, “shut the lion’s mouths,” and delivered him.

What I have been thinking about most, is his administrative skills and his willingness to serve God in a bureaucratic government organization surrounded by unbelievers and destined to do administrative tasks with occasional travel. Daniel served under three different kings, all temperamental or ungodly in their own unique ways. We don’t read about him complaining. We only read about how he took his concerns to God three times a day in prayer.

I realize now that Daniel probably had a lot of paper work, meetings, and conflict. He operated in the skills of decision making, problem solving, time management, negotiation, and communication. These are a few of the skills I teach as a professor in my Principles of Management courses.

I wonder how many times he may have asked God, is this ever going to end? We will ever be free of this bondage? I suspect, God told him, it will end, but you will not be returning to your homeland. In fact, when the 70 years of captivity prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah were near, Daniel was the intercessor who prayed for God to move on the king to release the people (Daniel 9).

In the midst of this “marketplace” experience, God did powerful demonstrations through Daniel. Daniel made an invisible God visible through prophetic words and miracles. Yes, he was an example of the power of prayer and living a righteous moral life, yet he also demonstrated leadership skills of calmness, steadfastness, peace, hope, and wisdom. Daniel practiced the Fruits of The Spirit (Galatians 5: 22 – 23) in the marketplace. A message I have promoted as a way to survive in the workplace in my book “Can God Come to Work with Me?“

My scripture verse this year has been Psalms 32:8: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you (who are willing to learn) with my eye upon you.”

One of the gifts I operate in is prophetic messages – encouraging words that I write and then pass on to others or publish. I believe my StrengthsFinder strengths of Strategic, Belief, and Futuristic, are part of the motivation and passion to write about what God would say to His leaders. My blogs eventually become devotional books. Going forward, I feel “directed” to start writing fresh current words the Lord is giving me. Here is my first for this blog (7/9/2023):

“My Daughter – Daniel was more than a wise leader. He was a prophet in the land. He was with his people in captivity giving them hope for their future. He spoke words of faith and encouragement wherever he went. He spoke words of grace and truth to those who would listen in the government and in the community. When it was time to speak to those in authority – the king and his counsel, Daniel obeyed and did so with My strength, courage, and spirit.

When you look back on your life, in all your organizations, you have done the same. Like Daniel, you pray daily. Like Daniel, you stand in the gap for your organization, your community, your state government, and your nation. Like Daniel you are obedient and draw your courage and strength from Me. Continue to do your administrative tasks with steadfastness and perseverance. Continue to spend time with Me. Your future is in my hands and the time for speaking to those in authority is coming soon.” The Father

This message is not just for me. It is for all those leaders, managers, and government or school administrators who have been faithful. Those who not only work with “a spirit of excellence” in the workplace, but also pray for the people and leaders in those organizations, whether hospitals, technology companies, public schools, or non-profits.

God is with you. He is pleased. He hears your prayers. The answers are on the way.

Copyright 2023 Dr. Wendy Flint

What should I say to the People?

I have been writing in journals for over 40 years. Sometimes, I ask God, what should I say to the people?

When I write, something in my spirit is activated and I “hear” words that God wants me to share. Some may think that’s arrogant, others understand that this is the way God has communicated with His people since the beginning of Adam and Eve. Everyone should seek to hear the words of the Lord and sometimes that is through prayer or reading the Bible – other times through reading the devotions and books of others.

        I have written hundreds of devotions and I noticed recently that I keep talking about a dream that still has not come to pass. I asked the Lord, “What should I say to people who are thinking, ‘Why should I believe her? Her final calling has still not come to pass?’ How do I explain that some of your promises to me were 25 to 30 years ago?”

            This is what He said in my spirit and what I wrote: “Tell them that Abraham and Sara were 90 years old when their promise of a son came to pass. Tell them you prayed for your mother to be saved for 45 years before that prayer was answered. Tell them that Caleb waited 40 years and he was 85 years old before he finally went into the promise land. Tell them that from the time you were “on the tarmac” (devotion #15 in my new book Can God Come to Work with Me?) until now (15 years), you have gained extreme amounts of training and wisdom. You have grown leaps and bounds in your faith. You have been prepared for such a time as this. Tell them, the vision will not be one day late.”

            I am also reminded, that if the vision came to pass swiftly and easily, we would be tempted to take the glory for our talents and achievements. When it seems impossible, God gets the glory.

7/30/2022