Leadership is Influence. No matter who you are, you have a realm of influence. If you think about it, you are a leader to those you influence. The question is: “What kind of influencer are you going to be?”

Each of us has different levels and platforms of leadership and influence within our families, our workplace, our church and our community. The issue of influence is not so much about how many people you influence as it is about how well the people around you are influenced by you. Your character is the driving factor in determining the quality of your influence in the lives of others. One of the best examples of character that I can think of that produced amazing influence is the example of Daniel in the Old Testament.

Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world:  “Peace and prosperity to you! “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. (Daniel 6:25-26 NLT)

Even as a young man with no title or position of authority, Daniel influenced a king. In fact, Daniel was a prisoner who not only won over his captors and their kingdom, but his influence reached “every race and nation and language throughout the world.” Wow! I call that influence. No doubt God did a lot of amazing supernatural signs and wonders to affirm Daniel, but all that was built on Daniels’s character. What great and amazing things could God do through you to impact those in your realm of influence? Let me challenge you today to lead with character, and confidence in God so that He can multiply His work through you. If you focus on the quality of your character in your realms of influence today, tomorrow you’ll rejoice in what God is doing in the world through you.