Right now we are in an amazing series at church called, NEXT where we are diving deep into the book of Nehemiah. Wow – there are so many incredible leadership lessons in this book. The fact is, each of us is a leader. Leadership is influence, and we all have influence. Whether in our family, work, school, friends, social media, community and church, there are so many places where we exercise leadership. The question becomes how are we using the leadership our God has given us for His glory?
Leadership Lesson #1 – Embrace, There is a God-sized call on your life. God called Nehemiah to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:3-4). Nehemiah was “cupbearer to the king” – vs. 11. He didn’t have to get involved since Jerusalem is 800 miles away from the palace in Susa where Nehemiah was, but God broke his heart. What breaks your heart? This will show you where God is calling you to become involved. Maybe it is for having a godly marriage, raising godly children, making disciples, reaching the lost and/or taking care of the poor. God broke Nehemiah’s heart for Jerusalem (the Holy City of God), and as Christians, God breaks our hearts for His Church today. God’s call in our life will always cause us to leave comfort. Nehemiah could have stayed comfortable, but he left and followed God. And, God used him to impact the world. God is calling each of us to get out of our comfort zone and move into the God-sized call He has given us. Don’t miss the God-sized call on your life.
Leadership lesson #2 – Pray, The Importance of Prayer. There are nine prayers in the book of Nehemiah (more than any other book). The first one is recorded in Nehemiah 1:5-11. Then, there are quick prayers where Nehemiah writes, “And, I prayed…” Nehemiah was a prayer warrior. If you are to grow spiritually and reach your full potential in life, then you need to grow in the area of prayer. How are you personally growing in your prayer life? Do you journal? I would encourage you to carve out time each day to pray and journal. This will become your lifeblood, and how you hear from God. In any battle or war, the first thing the enemy does is to attempt to destroy the communication system of the opposing army. This is so true for us in our spiritual battle. The enemy wants to cut us off from our Heavenly Father. We become “too busy” to pray. Not Nehemiah, Daniel or even Jesus. Make it a priority in your life and leadership to grow in your prayer life in order to hear from God.
Leadership Lesson #3 – Plan, The Need for Planning. Nehemiah spent four months planning (from the month of Kislev in Chapter 1 to the month of Nisan in Chapter 2). The old saying goes, “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.” So often, we skip this step in our call from God. We are so excited about what God is calling us to do, that we just start going. We need to pray, and then we need to prepare. If you are praying about your marriage, then make a plan. Schedule “date nights,” write notes, bring cards – have a plan. If you feel called to raise godly kids, then have a plan to have them at church, do family devotionals, buy them an age-appropriate Bible and give them books to read. If you feel called to reach your school or workplace for Christ, then have a plan. Planning also means setting some goals. Whatever it is, Nehemiah shows us that every leader needs to pray and plan.
Leadership Lesson #4 – Deadline, Set a Deadline. Nehemiah set a time (Nehemiah 2:6). If you don’t set a deadline, then it won’t get done. How many dreams has God put on our hearts that we never accomplished? Most of the time, we have the right motivation and maybe even a plan, but we don’t set a deadline. If God puts someone on your heart to share Christ with, then give yourself a deadline – by “x date” I will meet them for coffee, I will mail them a Christian book, I will give them a Bible, I will pray for them every day. If God breaks your heart for the poor in your community, then by “x date,” I will volunteer at a food pantry, I will give financially to a ministry, I will go on a mission trip. Maybe it is to write a book or write a journal for your kids to read one day. Whatever God puts on your heart, put a date to it.
Leadership Lesson #5 – Ask, The Power of the Ask. Nehemiah asked the King to allow him to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls (Nehemiah 2:7-8). Now, this was a crazy ask. The King could have had him killed over this. Nehemiah even admits that he is afraid. Bravery is not the absence of fear, but pushing through the fear. Think about it, you can’t be brave without fear. But, Nehemiah presses through the fear, and asks the King. God does a miracle, and the King says, “Yes.” Not only “Yes.” But, the King gives Nehemiah supplies, papers and supplies to do what God called him to do. Truly immeasurably more! So often, we are afraid to ask for help. Afraid to go to a counselor, afraid to be baptized, afraid to join a Small Group, afraid to ask for an accountability partner, etc. Jesus said, “Ask and you will receive.” John 16:24. This doesn’t mean we receive everything just like we want it, but we will receive what God wants for us. Remember it is His call and His vision in us. Nehemiah asks God first – he prays. Then, despite his fear, he asks the king. Leaders push past the fear. Let’s never be afraid to ask God or others for help.
These are your 5 Leadership Lessons for this week. Start by putting these into practice in one area of your life. Then, next week I will share 5 more. Blessings on you as you step into what is NEXT in your life. As you listen and follow God, the best is truly yet to come.
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