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Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. (Colossians 3:23–24)

For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. (Hebrews 6:10)

There is another body of names and faces equally deserving of our praise. They are the lesser lights, the forgotten heroes, the unknowns, the “nobodies” who paved the way for the “somebodies.” Without these willing unknowns, no leader can ever carry out his or her calling. But how easy it is to forget them.

They solemnly promised to carefully follow all the commands, regulations, and decrees of the LORD our Lord....“We promise together not to neglect the Temple of our God.” (Nehemiah 10:29, 39)

There are some very simple—but life-changing—principles that I glean from the verses in Nehemiah 10. The first is that serious thought precedes any significant change. You never change areas of your life that have not been given serious thought. We need to schedule some quiet times in our lives, times for thinking and reflection.

Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. (Proverbs 21:5)

How difficult it is to find a person who thinks first and then acts! Most of us usually do the opposite. Equally difficult is helping people maintain proper priorities and to use time wisely.

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

As we approach the topic of prayer, let’s begin with an assessment. Carefully consider the following five questions...but before you do, make a commitment. Commit to telling yourself the honest truth, no matter how uncomfortable it feels. Unless you reveal them, no one will ever know your answers except the Lord.

“You alone are the Lord. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you.” (Nehemiah 9:6)

Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. (Psalm 119:1)

When we get beneath surface facts and start to traffic in the realm of in-depth truth, two things usually happen: we walk in greater obedience, and we discover genuine happiness. The leaders in Nehemiah’s day experienced both.

They found written in the Law how the LORD had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel were to live in booths during the feast of the seventh month. (Nehemiah 8:14 NASB)

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. (Proverbs 9:10)

Then on the second day the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests, and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe so that they might gain insight into the words of the Law. (Nehemiah 8:13 NASB)

“Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10)

After an oral reading from the book of the Law, those gifted in its truths exposited the text to make the meaning clear. But why did they need to translate the Scripture? These people were Jews by birth, but not by tongue or culture. Having been reared in a Persian environment, naturally they brought it with them. The words read to them were from the Hebrew Bible. They heard a Hebrew Bible through Persian ears. There was a communication breakdown.

They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage. (Nehemiah 8:8)

Tucked away in the old book of Nehemiah is the first recorded revival. And of all places, the revival occurred at the Water Gate. According to Nehemiah 8:1, “All the people gathered as one person at the square which was in front of the Water Gate” (NASB). This would be the setting of the most exciting experience since the completion of the wall.