Visionary Leadership and Spiritual Renewal – Seeking God’s Guidance Through Fasting

Visionary Leadership and Spiritual Renewal – Seeking God’s Guidance Through Fasting

Mathew,

I am a firm believer in praying and fasting. Our Lord Jesus Christ was in the habit of taking time out to pray away from the disciples and other followers. He also fasted for 40 days before starting His ministry. One could argue that He did not need to fast because He was God and could do all things, but Jesus was as fully human as He was fully God. He knew as a man that He needed the strength, wisdom, and willpower to carry to fulfillment His purpose here on earth.  Jesus also prayed just before he appointed the 12 apostles. Besides this, my main influence on fasting comes from Saul’s encounter on his way to Damascus. The last highlighted part of his journey and encounter was the fact that a three-day dry fast worked to transform his inner being into one that was a complete vessel for the use of God.

⁷ And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. ⁸ Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹ And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. (Acts 9:7-9).

So whenever I feel the Holy Spirit wanting to take me to a new level, to get me out of my comfort zone, I transition with a three day dry fast as Paul did.

Also, based on the teachings of visionary leaders, what you say when you quote Habakkuk (2:2-3) is true. Writing down a vision is important as it helps a person to remain focused and always aware of what to do. Masuda et al. (2010) point out that even at a personal level, one needs to write their personal vision concerning different aspects of their lives: relationships, career, health, finances, etc.

References

Mark 1:35 (NIV).  “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

Masuda, A. D., Kane, T. D., Shoptaugh, C. F., & Minor, K. A. (2010). The role of a vivid and challenging personal vision in goal hierarchies. The Journal of Psychology, 144(3), 221-           242.

Oxford University Press. (2009). The English Standard Version Bible: with Apocrypha. The English Standard Version Bible: with Apocrypha. New York.

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I would like to mention I am also fasting for the 21-Day Fast with Jentezen Franklin, and I am on day 7. It is an amazing time of challenge for reflection and honest inquiry of the Lord. I asked the Lord to open my eyes to anything He wants to rid me of, take from me, and set me free. I have prayed to God and heard him speak to me. He said the Lord gives Forgiveness.  I also found this information profoundly interesting on Jentzeens’ Website:

Visionary Leadership and Spiritual Renewal

An inordinate affection for something or someone is akin to worshipping false gods or idols. This could be everything from famous people and their lifestyles to a person who has complete control over what you do. This could be an obsession with money or the things money can buy.  But it could also be a religious personality that you follow blindly even though those who know you best have tried to warn you.

I believe a leader must be guided through the Holy Spirit to make good decisions. And ye shall seek me, and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart Jeremiah 29:13

 Matthew Omorogbe 

A Vision

The importance of having visionary leadership cannot be overemphasized. Seeking God’s leading and knowing His mind concerning an issue before making a decision are the characteristics of a visionary leader. For the leader to hear from God, he/she must be in obedience to God’s commandment and position himself or herself in a way that he can hear or know when God speaks to him or her. Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV) states, “Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know”. This is so important because “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (proverbs 14:12, ESV).

I am privileged to belong to a commission that teaches its members how to seek the face of God concerning what lies ahead through prayer, fasting, and bible study. Our tradition as a church is to approach God in fasting and prayer for 21 days every January and 3 days every month. Through this means, I have been able to present issues to God, and He has answered and guided me. I was admitted to CCU by God’s guidance, and He has helped me excel in all the courses that I have taken. The question of what comes next after my graduation is another case I have presented to God. And I am waiting to know what his mind is concerning that.

The vision and mission of an organization are what the followers follow, not necessarily the leader. According to Riggio et al. (2008), followers help leaders achieve the vision of the organization. Building a trusted relationship with the leader and the acquisition of skills are necessary to fulfil the vision. However, a leader without vision is heading for bankruptcy (Proverbs 29:18).

In conclusion, I like to re-state the words of prophet Habakkuk after he enquired of God;

“And the Lord answered me: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:2-3, ESV).

Reference:

Riggio, R. E., Chaleff, I., & Lipman-Blumen, J. (2008). The art of followership: How great followers create great leaders and organizations