Speaking Up For God | Nehemiah 2:5

And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.” — Nehemiah 2:5 I cannot recall how many times I've found myself in situations just like this. Moments when I know I need to speak up for what God wants, but I'm unsure if it's the right time, the right message, or if I'll handle it the right way. But in this situation, the reason is obvious: Nehemiah is intimidated by the king. He's uncertain if his desires will align with those of the king. So, Nehemiah risks every favor he has ever earned with the king. He puts it all on the line, not for himself but for the will of God. He sacrifices his favor for God's favor. His pleasure for God's pleasure. Many believing men never experience this, mainly because they're too worried about their status, their accomplishments, and preserving themselves. But note: this is not reckless courage. It's courage rooted in his favor with God. In Nehemiah's mind, God's favor always takes precedence over his own. What he doesn't know is if God's favor will be received favorably by the king. But the only way to find out is to put it out there. And then he says it, "Send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it." The surgical nature of this moment and request is so beautiful. It's a wonderful display of God's divine work through His man. And if you want to be that man, you need to stop seeking your own favor, seek God's, and start speaking on His behalf. You just might find that God will provide you more than your favor ever could. Guys, we need to stop staring at all the natural impossibilities before us and start seeing God's divine provision. When you do, you might find that God is looking for men who are courageous enough to ask for things that God already wants, which bring attention to His favor, not your own. ASK THIS: Reflect on a time when you felt called to speak up or take action for what you believed was God's will despite feeling intimidated or uncertain. How did you handle the situation, and what lessons did you learn about trusting God's favor over your own fears or desires? In your daily life, how can you actively seek God's favor and guidance before making decisions, especially when those decisions involve risks or stepping out of your comfort zone? Discuss practical ways you can align your actions with God's will, even in the face of potential challenges or opposition from others. DO THIS: Lay down your favor for His. PRAY THIS: Father, grant me the courage to stand firm in Your will, to speak Your truth even in the face of intimidation, and to always seek Your favor above all else. May my actions and words reflect Your divine purpose, bringing glory to Your name and not my own. Amen. PLAY THIS: Holy Desire. Check out other all Vince Miller's videos and audios for small groups at: https://beresolute.org/ Get Vince's most widely read resources The Daily Devotional at: https://beresolute.org/mdd Check out more ALL IN products like the one Vince is wearing at: https://beresolute.org/product-category/all-in-hats/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Vince socially: FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/millervince INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vinceleemiller LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincemiller TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vinceleemiller