Talent is a gift, but character is a choice!

Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him. The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.” Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. (Daniel 2:46-48)

Does the private life of a leader truly impact his or her public life?
No question about it.

Daniel could have tried merely to survive his experience as a captive in a foreign land. Instead he never left his disciplined life of character and personal commitment. He maintained his diet, motives, honesty, disciplines, integrity, and convictions.

How a leader deals with the circumstances of his life tells you many things about his character. Crisis doesn’t necessarily make character, but it certainly does reveal it. Adversity makes a person choose one of two paths: character or compromise.

Character is the foundation on which a leader builds his or her life. It all begins with character, because leadership operates on the basis of trust. People follow a leader only as far as they trust him or her. Character communicates credibility, harnesses respect, creates consistency, and earns trust.

It’s valuable for every leader to realize:

1) Character is more than talk. Action is the real indicator of character.

2) Talent is a gift, but character is a choice. We have no control over a lot of things in life. But we do choose our character. We create it each time we make choices.

3) Character brings lasting success with people.

4) Leaders cannot rise about the limitation of their character. It will always determine whether a leader finishes well.

Prayer Power
Father, I praise You as the great I AM! You are the perfect model of character. It is my heart’s desire to follow hard after You. Mold me. Shape me. Make me into who You created me to be. Bless those who read this message to become all that You created them to be. We bless You Jesus. Amen.

Link of the Day
Daniel by Musterseed Media [http://www.mustardseed.net/html/pedaniel.html]

Blessings to have godly balance in your life!

Your Daily Blessing News
Today’s message contains a summary of the message on page 1025 of the Maxwell Leadership Bible.