5 Inspiring Examples of Living by Godly Principles That Transform the World

Discovering How Biblical Convictions Produce Extraordinary Lives That Impact Eternity

Key Verse: "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." — Micah 6:8

1. Daniel: Faithfulness to God's Principles in a Hostile Culture

Daniel's life provides perhaps the most comprehensive biblical example of maintaining godly principles while living in a culture that actively opposed those principles. Taken captive as a teenager when Babylon conquered Jerusalem, Daniel spent his entire adult life in a pagan empire that worshiped false gods, celebrated moral compromise, and often demanded actions that violated his faith. Yet throughout decades of service under multiple kings, Daniel never compromised his convictions, and his faithfulness elevated him to positions of extraordinary influence.

The first test came immediately. Daniel 1:8 records: "But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way." The Babylonian king had assigned Daniel and other Jewish captives a daily portion of food and wine from the royal table. For most people, this would have been an honor and privilege. But Daniel recognized that eating this food would violate Jewish dietary laws and likely involved food offered to idols.

Notice several things about Daniel's response: (1) He had resolved beforehand—this wasn't a spontaneous decision made under pressure but a pre-established conviction, (2) He didn't just go along while feeling guilty—he took action based on his convictions, (3) He was respectful in his approach—he didn't attack or condemn but made a gracious request, (4) He proposed an alternative that would demonstrate whether his convictions were valid.

The result? Daniel 1:15-20 records that after the ten-day test on vegetables and water, Daniel and his friends "looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food." Furthermore, "God gave them knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds." When examined by the king, "he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom."

This pattern continued throughout Daniel's life. When commanded not to pray to anyone except King Darius for thirty days, Daniel continued his practice of praying three times daily with his windows open toward Jerusalem (Daniel 6:10). He didn't hide his faith or compromise his practice even when he knew it would result in being thrown into the lions' den. His commitment to his God-established spiritual disciplines was non-negotiable regardless of the consequences.

The governing principles evident in Daniel's life include: Absolute priority of God's commands over human commands (When they conflicted, Daniel obeyed God without hesitation). Consistency of practice regardless of circumstances (Daniel prayed three times daily "just as he had done before" even when it became illegal). Respectful engagement with authority while maintaining convictions (Daniel showed honor to earthly kings while never compromising obedience to the King of Heaven). Trust in God's vindication rather than self-protection (Daniel didn't hide his faith to save his life but trusted God with the outcome). Excellence in secular work as an expression of faithfulness to God (Daniel served his pagan employers with such excellence that even his enemies "could find no corruption in him").

The result of Daniel's principled life extended far beyond personal vindication. Multiple pagan kings came to acknowledge the God of Israel because of Daniel's influence. King Nebuchadnezzar declared: "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings" (Daniel 2:47). King Darius decreed: "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever" (Daniel 6:26). One man's unwavering commitment to godly principles resulted in the most powerful leaders of the ancient world acknowledging the reality and supremacy of God.

Daniel's example challenges us: Are you willing to maintain biblical convictions even when your culture actively opposes them? Will you prioritize God's commands over human approval? Can you serve with excellence in secular contexts while never compromising your faith? Daniel shows us that it's possible to thrive in a hostile culture without assimilating to that culture's values—but only through unwavering commitment to God's principles.

2. Corrie ten Boom: Love and Forgiveness Even for Your Enemies

Corrie ten Boom's life demonstrates the transformative power of applying biblical principles of love and forgiveness even in the most extreme circumstances imaginable. During World War II, Corrie and her family—devout Christians in the Netherlands—began hiding Jewish refugees in their home to protect them from Nazi deportation and death. This decision was rooted in their deep conviction that every human being bears God's image and deserves dignity and protection regardless of race or religion.

The principle at work was simple but costly: Matthew 25:40, where Jesus says, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." The ten Boom family took this literally—serving vulnerable Jewish people was serving Christ Himself. This conviction led them to build a secret room in Corrie's bedroom where refugees could hide, to establish an underground network providing food and false identification papers, and ultimately to save an estimated 800 Jewish lives.

The cost was enormous. In February 1944, the family was betrayed, and Corrie, her father, and her sister Betsie were arrested. Her father died ten days later in prison. Corrie and Betsie were eventually transferred to Ravensbrück concentration camp in Germany, where they endured dehumanizing conditions, forced labor, disease, and constant brutality. Betsie died in the camp in December 1944. Corrie was released shortly afterward due to a clerical error—she later learned that all women her age in the camp were executed the week following her release.

But the most remarkable aspect of Corrie's story is not the courage she showed in hiding Jews or the suffering she endured in the concentration camp—it is the forgiveness she extended afterward. The biblical principle at work was Jesus' command in Matthew 5:44: "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Corrie didn't just endure this command as a difficult teaching—she actually lived it.

After the war, Corrie traveled extensively sharing her testimony and calling people to forgive their enemies. In her book *The Hiding Place*, she recounts the most difficult moment of forgiveness. At a church service in Munich where she had just spoken about God's forgiveness, a man approached her—and she immediately recognized him as one of the cruelest guards from Ravensbrück, one who had humiliated her and her sister. He extended his hand and said he had become a Christian, that he knew God had forgiven him, and he asked if she would forgive him too.

Corrie writes: "I stood there—I whose sins had again and again been forgiven—and could not forgive. Betsie had died in that place—could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking? It could not have been many seconds that he stood there, hand held out, but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do." She knew intellectually that forgiveness was commanded. She had just finished preaching about it. But in that moment, she could not manufacture the emotional willingness to forgive.

What happened next demonstrates the reality of depending on God's power to live out His principles: "And still I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart. But forgiveness is not an emotion—I knew that too. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. 'Jesus, help me!' I prayed silently. 'I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling.'... As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me. And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself."

The governing principles evident in Corrie's life include: Every human life has dignity and worth because people are made in God's image (This motivated her to risk everything to save Jewish lives). Obedience to God matters more than personal safety (She knew hiding Jews would likely result in arrest but did it anyway). Suffering can be endured with faith rather than bitterness (Even in the concentration camp, Corrie and Betsie held Bible studies and shared hope with other prisoners). Forgiveness is commanded even when—especially when—it feels impossible (Corrie forgave not because she felt like it but because God commanded it and empowered it). Personal suffering can become a platform for gospel witness (Corrie used her story to point millions toward Christ's forgiveness).

Corrie lived until age 91, spending the decades after the war traveling to more than sixty countries sharing her testimony. Her life demonstrates that biblical principles—even the hardest ones like loving enemies and forgiving persecutors—can actually be lived out, not through human willpower but through dependence on God's empowering grace. She proved that Romans 8:28 is true: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Even the horror of the concentration camp became, in God's hands, a tool to demonstrate the reality and power of supernatural forgiveness.

Corrie's example challenges us: Who do you need to forgive that you've been unwilling to forgive? What enemy do you need to love rather than hate? Are you willing to risk something valuable to protect the vulnerable? Can you trust God to work even suffering together for good? Corrie shows us that the most impossible-seeming commands in Scripture can be obeyed when we stop trying to manufacture obedience in our own strength and instead depend on God to supply what He commands.

3. Eric Liddell: Honoring God Above Personal Achievement

Eric Liddell's life powerfully illustrates what it means to honor God even when obedience costs you your greatest opportunity for achievement and recognition. Liddell was a Scottish athlete who competed in the 1924 Olympics in Paris. He was favored to win the gold medal in the 100-meter dash, his best event. But when Liddell learned that the 100-meter heats would be run on Sunday, he refused to participate because of his conviction that Sunday should be reserved for worship and rest, not competition.

The principle at work was the fourth commandment: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy" (Exodus 20:8). For Liddell, this wasn't a legalistic rule but a joyful conviction—Sunday was the Lord's Day, set apart for worshiping God, not for pursuing personal glory through athletic competition. When friends, coaches, and even the Prince of Wales tried to persuade him to compromise "just this once" because this was the Olympics, the opportunity of a lifetime, Liddell remained unmoved. His conviction was established before the pressure came, and no amount of pressure could shake it.

The personal cost appeared enormous. Liddell had trained for years specifically for the 100-meter dash. This was his best chance at Olympic glory. Refusing to run meant giving up the gold medal that was likely within his grasp. From a worldly perspective, this decision looked foolish—sacrificing legitimate achievement for a religious scruple that most people wouldn't understand or respect. But Liddell's perspective was radically different. As he famously said: "I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure. To win is to honor Him." But honoring God through athletic achievement could never take precedence over honoring God through obedience to His commands.

What happened next is remarkable. Instead of the 100-meter dash, Liddell competed in the 400 meters—an event he was less prepared for and less favored to win. Before the final, someone handed him a note with a quotation from 1 Samuel 2:30: "Those who honor me I will honor." Liddell not only won the race but set a new world record in the process. God vindicated his faithfulness in a way that brought far more glory to God than if Liddell had won the 100 meters after compromising his convictions.

But the story doesn't end with Olympic glory. After graduating from university, Liddell felt called to serve as a missionary in China, where he had been born to missionary parents. He spent the next twenty years there teaching, preaching, and serving in obscurity—a radical contrast from Olympic fame. When World War II broke out and Japan invaded China, Liddell sent his pregnant wife and daughters to safety in Canada while he remained behind to continue his work.

In 1943, Liddell was interned in a Japanese prison camp along with other foreign nationals. He spent the final two years of his life in the camp, where he continued to live out his convictions by serving others sacrificially—organizing activities for children, sharing his meager rations with those in greater need, settling disputes, and maintaining his faith despite deteriorating conditions. Liddell died in the camp in February 1945, five months before it was liberated. He was 43 years old.

From a worldly perspective, Liddell's life looks tragic—Olympic champion reduced to prisoner, celebrity missionary dying in obscurity, young man cut down in his prime. But from an eternal perspective, Liddell's life was extraordinarily fruitful. His Olympic testimony pointed countless people toward the reality that honoring God matters more than personal achievement. His missionary service impacted lives that will echo into eternity. And his faithful witness in the prison camp encouraged hundreds of fellow prisoners during their darkest hours. A fellow prisoner later wrote: "Eric Liddell's words and example kept me going for three years in the camp... He made me believe God cared about us."

The governing principles evident in Liddell's life include: Honoring God takes precedence over personal achievement (Olympic glory mattered less than obedience to God's commands). God's approval matters infinitely more than human acclaim (Liddell was willing to be misunderstood and criticized rather than compromise convictions). True success is measured by faithfulness rather than outcomes (From Olympics to prison camp, Liddell remained faithful). Excellence in your calling honors God whether or not it brings recognition (Liddell ran with excellence and served with excellence). Your life's greatest impact may come through sacrifice rather than success (Liddell's witness in the prison camp had eternal impact).

Liddell's favorite verse, which he quoted often, was Isaiah 40:31: "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." He proved the truth of this promise—those who put their hope in the Lord rather than in earthly achievement receive supernatural strength to endure whatever circumstances they face. And the endurance itself becomes a powerful testimony to the reality of God.

Eric Liddell's example challenges us: What are you unwilling to sacrifice for obedience to God? Where does personal achievement or recognition take precedence over honoring God? Are you willing to be misunderstood or criticized for maintaining biblical convictions? Can you trust God to vindicate your faithfulness in His timing and His way rather than demanding immediate validation? Liddell shows us that honoring God always proves wise in the end, even when it looks foolish in the moment.

4. William Wilberforce: Persistent Pursuit of Justice Despite Opposition

William Wilberforce's life demonstrates what it means to apply biblical principles of justice to systemic social evils, persevering for decades despite overwhelming opposition until transformation occurs. Wilberforce was a British politician who became convinced that slavery—though legal and economically entrenched—was an abomination that violated every principle of human dignity and must be abolished.

Born in 1759 into a wealthy family, Wilberforce entered Parliament at age 21. But in 1785, he experienced a dramatic Christian conversion that transformed his worldview and sense of purpose. Initially, he considered leaving politics to enter ministry, believing that only religious work had eternal value. But a mentor, John Newton (the former slave ship captain who wrote "Amazing Grace" and had experienced his own conversion), counseled Wilberforce that God had placed him in Parliament for a purpose—to use his political influence to advance God's kingdom through pursuing justice.

The principle at work was Micah 6:8: "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Wilberforce came to see that acting justly meant confronting the greatest injustice of his era—the slave trade, which treated human beings made in God's image as property to be bought, sold, and brutalized for profit. As he studied the realities of slavery—the horrific conditions on slave ships, the brutal treatment on plantations, the tearing apart of families—Wilberforce became convinced that God was calling him to fight for abolition.

In 1787, Wilberforce wrote in his journal: "God Almighty has set before me two great objects: the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners [moral reform]." This was not a passing interest or temporary enthusiasm—it was a calling that would consume the next forty-six years of his life. The journey would prove far more difficult and lengthy than Wilberforce initially imagined.

Wilberforce introduced his first anti-slavery motion in Parliament in 1789. It was defeated. He tried again in 1791. Defeated again. And again in 1792, 1794, 1796, 1798, 1799—each time facing fierce opposition from those with economic interests in slavery, those who argued slavery was necessary for Britain's economy, and those who simply didn't believe that Africans deserved the same dignity as Europeans. Wilberforce and his allies faced mockery, threats, and fierce attacks. His health deteriorated under the stress. Multiple times it appeared the cause was hopeless.

But Wilberforce refused to give up. His conviction was rooted not in political calculations about what was achievable but in biblical truth about what was right. As he said: "If to be feelingly alive to the sufferings of my fellow-creatures is to be a fanatic, I am one of the most incurable fanatics ever permitted to be at large." He couldn't stop fighting for abolition because the cause was just, regardless of how long it took or whether he lived to see victory.

Wilberforce found strength in his faith community. He was part of a group of evangelical Christians known as the Clapham Circle, who encouraged each other, prayed together, and collaborated on various reform efforts. They understood Galatians 6:9: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." This community sustained Wilberforce through decades of defeat and disappointment.

Finally, after eighteen years of persistent effort, Parliament passed the Slave Trade Act in 1807, abolishing the slave trade (though not yet slavery itself) in the British Empire. But Wilberforce didn't stop. For another twenty-six years, he continued fighting for complete abolition of slavery. In 1833, three days before Wilberforce died, Parliament finally passed the Slavery Abolition Act, which freed all slaves in the British Empire. Wilberforce lived long enough to know that the cause to which he had devoted his entire adult life had finally succeeded.

The governing principles evident in Wilberforce's life include: Biblical justice requires confronting systemic evils, not just personal sins (Wilberforce recognized that slavery was a structural injustice that required political action). Faithfulness to God's call requires perseverance through years of apparent failure (Eighteen years of defeat didn't deter Wilberforce from continuing). Christian community provides essential support for long-term faithfulness (The Clapham Circle sustained Wilberforce through discouragement). God's timing for vindication may extend beyond your lifetime (Wilberforce barely lived to see complete abolition). One faithful life can change the course of history (Wilberforce's persistence freed hundreds of thousands from slavery).

Wilberforce often quoted Hebrews 12:1: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." He understood that faithfulness required perseverance—continuing to run the race even when victory seemed impossible, trusting that God would accomplish His purposes in His timing.

William Wilberforce's example challenges us: What injustices around you require your attention and action? Are you willing to persist in pursuing justice even when progress seems impossible? Can you remain faithful to God's call for decades without seeing the results you hope for? Do you have a community that sustains you in long-term faithfulness? Wilberforce shows us that seemingly impossible systemic change can occur when people commit to persistent, faithful application of biblical principles regardless of how long it takes.

5. George Müller: Radical Faith in God's Provision

George Müller's life demonstrates what it means to take God's promises about provision literally and to live in radical dependence on prayer rather than human fundraising or manipulation. Müller was a 19th-century Christian who felt called to care for orphaned children in Bristol, England. What made his approach revolutionary was his decision never to ask people for money, never to go into debt, and never to reveal specific financial needs to anyone except God in prayer. He trusted that if God had called him to this work, God would provide everything necessary through prayer alone.

The principle at work was Philippians 4:19: "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Müller believed this promise absolutely. He was also motivated by Matthew 6:8: "Your Father knows what you need before you ask him," and Matthew 6:33: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." If God knew the needs, if God had promised to provide, and if the work was genuinely God's work, then prayer alone should be sufficient—no need for fundraising campaigns, emotional manipulation, or going into debt.

Müller's approach was radical because it was so contrary to normal practice. Most ministries raised funds through appeals, publicity campaigns, and direct solicitation. Müller refused all of these methods. He wrote: "I decided... never to ask any human being for help... but to make my wants known only to God... that all might see that God is worthy to be trusted." His goal wasn't just to care for orphans (though he cared deeply about that), but to demonstrate to a skeptical world that God is real, that prayer works, and that trusting God's promises is not naive but wise.

Müller opened his first orphan house in 1836 with two children. Over the next sixty years, he would care for more than 10,000 orphans, eventually operating five large orphan houses that accommodated up to 2,000 children at a time. The work required enormous resources—food, clothing, shelter, education, staff salaries—all provided through prayer alone without ever asking people for donations.

The stories of God's provision are remarkable. Multiple times, the orphan houses had no food for the next meal, yet Müller would gather the children to pray and thank God for the food they were about to receive. Regularly, within hours or even minutes of prayer, unexpected donations would arrive—sometimes from strangers who felt prompted to give, sometimes from people who had no idea of the specific need. Müller carefully documented every instance of provision, keeping detailed records that filled thousands of pages, demonstrating again and again that prayer moved God to provide exactly what was needed exactly when it was needed.

One famous account describes a morning when the orphanage had no food for breakfast. Müller gathered the 300 children, had them sit at the empty tables, and prayed: "Dear Father, we thank You for what You are going to give us to eat." Immediately after the prayer, there was a knock at the door. The local baker stood there, saying he had been unable to sleep and felt compelled to bake bread for the orphans. As the baker was delivering his bread, there was another knock—the local milkman's cart had broken down right in front of the orphanage, and he offered to give all his milk to the children rather than let it spoil. God had provided both bread and milk within minutes of Müller's prayer of faith.

But it wasn't always that dramatic. Sometimes the provision came with only minutes to spare. Sometimes Müller and his staff went through periods of intense testing when it seemed God had delayed too long. But Müller learned to trust God's timing, not just God's provision. He wrote: "The great point is never to give up until the answer comes. I have been praying every day for 52 years for two men, sons of a friend of my youth. They are not converted yet, but they will be... The great fault of the children of God is, they do not continue in prayer; they do not go on praying; they do not persevere. If they desire anything for God's glory, they should pray until they get it."

The governing principles evident in Müller's life include: God's promises about provision can be taken literally and tested (Müller built his entire ministry on trusting these promises). Prayer is more powerful than any human strategy or manipulation (Müller refused fundraising in favor of prayer). Faithfulness means trusting God's timing, not just God's promises (Sometimes provision came at the last minute, testing Müller's faith). Dependency on God rather than human resources brings Him glory (Müller's method demonstrated God's reality to skeptics). Careful documentation of God's faithfulness encourages faith in others (Müller's journals inspired thousands to trust God more fully).

By the time Müller died in 1898 at age 92, his orphan houses had cared for more than 10,000 children, distributed 285,000 Bibles and 1.5 million New Testaments, supported 189 missionaries, and established 117 schools serving more than 120,000 students—all funded through prayer alone without ever asking for donations. The total amount of money that came in during his lifetime exceeded $7 million (equivalent to over $150 million today), all in answer to prayer, all documented carefully, all demonstrating the reality that Philippians 4:19 is true.

George Müller's example challenges us: Do you actually believe God's promises about provision, or do you just give intellectual assent while trusting primarily in human strategies? Are you willing to trust God's timing even when provision comes at the last minute? Could your financial life demonstrate to skeptics that God is real and prayer works? What would change if you truly depended on God rather than on your own resources or manipulation of others? Müller shows us that radical faith in God's promises produces supernatural provision that cannot be explained by human means—and in the process brings glory to God and encouragement to others.

Applying These Principles to Your Life Today

Your Life Can Be the Next Inspiring Example

These five examples—Daniel, Corrie ten Boom, Eric Liddell, William Wilberforce, and George Müller—are not meant merely to inspire admiration for their extraordinary faithfulness. They are meant to challenge you with the possibility that your life could demonstrate the same kind of transformative power when biblical principles are actually lived out rather than merely studied.

You may never face a lions' den like Daniel, a concentration camp like Corrie, Olympic-level competition like Liddell, Parliament like Wilberforce, or thousands of orphans like Müller. But you will face daily decisions about whether to compromise convictions for convenience, whether to forgive those who hurt you, whether to honor God above personal achievement, whether to pursue justice despite opposition, and whether to trust God's provision or rely on human strategies.

The principles they lived by are not reserved for exceptional saints. They are the normal expectations for every believer. God is not calling you to be perfect—He is calling you to be faithful. He is not demanding that you never struggle—He is inviting you to depend on His power rather than your own. He is not requiring that you see immediate results—He is asking that you trust His timing and persevere in obedience.

The question is: Will you be the next inspiring example? Will future generations read your story and be challenged by how you lived out biblical principles in your unique context? Will your life demonstrate to a skeptical world that God is real, His promises are trustworthy, and His principles actually work when lived out faithfully?

"Father, I confess that I have often admired faithfulness in others while excusing compromise in myself. I have studied biblical principles without applying them. I have been inspired by these examples without following their pattern. Forgive me for this disconnect. Today I commit to living by Your principles regardless of cost. Give me Daniel's courage to maintain convictions in hostile culture. Give me Corrie's grace to forgive even my enemies. Give me Eric's willingness to honor You above personal achievement. Give me Wilberforce's perseverance to pursue justice for decades if necessary. Give me Müller's faith to depend radically on Your provision. Transform my life into an inspiring example that points others toward the reality and power of living by godly principles. In Jesus' name, Amen."