Even the most devout Christian leaders will experience times in their leadership when there appears to be no hope for success based on all our previous leadership experience. Every leader will discover there are times when it is hard to trust God. Read 2 Kings 18 and 19.

Hezekiah was 25 years old when he became king of Judah. He was a leader dedicated to God’s lifestyle principles for the people of Judah. According to 18:3-4a, “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles.” Read more »

A trustworthy leader is crucial if a team is to function with confidence. If the leader does not trust their team or the team does not trust their leader, initiative and productivity will be greatly diminished; conversely, when trust flourishes, accomplishment abounds. Read 2 Kings 12:13-16.

Joash was established as the king of Judah when he was seven years old. As a young man he served God and helped the priests repair the spiritual condition of the people. During those years he also asked the priests to repair the physical condition of the temple. Years went by and even though Joash had authorized the use of selected temple offerings for the repairs, the priests used the offerings to make expensive silver basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, and other articles of gold and silver for the temple but no repairs to the structure. Read more »

Accountability is always in a leaders own best interest regardless of the degree of inconvenience it may entail. Read 2 Kings 12:1-3 and 2 Chronicles 24:15-25.

As a one-year-old, Joash, a prince in Judah was rescued during an assassination attempt. He was smuggled into the temple and raised and taught by the priest Jehoiada for six years and then brought to the throne as Judah’s king through a daring plan devised and carried out by Jehoiada. Joash never forgot the kindness of the priest and allowed Jehoiada to hold him accountable as long as Jehoiada lived. According to 2 Kings 12:2, “Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him.” Read more »

Leadership by its very nature requires action, and taking action requires courage. Courage is needed for something as simple as making a leadership decision—you may be wrong and lose face or worse cost someone some money or their job; or a leader may be asked to lead when people’s lives, including their own, may be on the line. Read 2 Kings 11:1-21.

Jehu, future king of the northern kingdom, Israel, murdered Joram, King of Israel, to ascend to the throne. Ahaziah, King of Judah, the southern kingdom, happened to be a guest at Joram’s palace when Jehu assassinated Joram, so Jehu killed him also. Second Kings 11:1 says, “When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family.” This power hungry woman wanted the throne and was willing to kill all her grandsons in order to have it. Enter the scene, two leaders with great courage: Read more »