Nehemiah might have served as the poster boy for philosophy: "You never have to recover from a good start." He powerfully illustrates the role of an initiative in a leader's life. Some say you are not a leader unless you take the initiative. What is your perspective?

This godly leader took the initiative to pray for Jerusalem's problems, to plan the rebuilding project, to persuade the people to act, and to pursue the product they all wanted. And he did it in that order. His initiative showed great insight.

Nehemiah couldn't imagine sitting still when he heard the walls of Jerusalem lay in shambles. He had to act. Of all the things a leader should fear, complacency ought to head the list.

But what enables good leaders to initiate? Nehemiah demonstrates that leaders know something in their hearts or guts that prompts them to act. They don't know everything, but they know enough to act. Nehemiah had insight into the following areas:

1. He knew how long the project would take (2:6). Nehemiah gave King Artaxerxes a definite time period for his absence.
2. He knew how to get there (2:7). Nehemiah asked for letters of permission to pass through the provinces beyond the river to Judah.
3. He knew what he would need to get the job done (2:8). Nehemiah requested timbers from Asaph to make beams and gates for the wall.
4. He knew that God's hand was upon him (2:8). Nehemiah got all that he requested because the hand of God rested on him.

Qualities of Initiators

Nehemiah displayed the qualities that make for initiative in leaders:

1. They know what they want. Desire is the starting point of all achievement. Nehemiah knew that he wanted that wall up.
2. They push themselves to act. At first, Nehemiah acted alone. He pushed to get the facts that would move others.
3. They take more risks. Nehemiah took some major risks as he got permission to go, to get wood, and to survey the job.
4. They make more mistakes. Nehemiah wasn't afraid to mobilize men who weren't professional contractors or soldiers to build and fight.
5. They go with their gut. What Nehemiah lacked in experience, he made up for with the passion of his heart.

Devotion by John Maxwell.

Nehemiah 1:4-2:8

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days, I mourned, fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven. ⁵ Then I said:

“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, ⁶ let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. ⁷ We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees, and laws you gave your servant Moses.

⁸ “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, ⁹ but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’

¹⁰ “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. ¹¹ Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

I was cupbearer to the king.

Artaxerxes Sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem

2 In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, ² so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”

I was very much afraid, ³ but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

⁴ The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, ⁵ and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

⁶ Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me, so I set a time.

⁷ I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? ⁸ And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests.