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

This single moment with King Artaxerxes was perhaps the most defining moment of Nehemiah's life. Taken into captivity into foreign territory, Nehemiah found himself serving one of the powerful emperors during his time. Fearful for his life, he leans into a pivotal "man shaping" moment. His choice was either to shut up or speak up - and as we know, Nehemiah chose the later.

We all have this choice; often daily. We have the choice to vote or stay home. We have the choice to lead or just go along with the crowd. We have the choice to create or simply consume. We have the choice to voice our Christian viewpoint or agree as not to ruffle feathers. We have the choice to stand up for injustice, or just passively hope someone else will say something. And these choices are the difference between manhood and boyhood.

DO THIS: Speak up.

PRAYER: God, today regardless of my feelings of insecurity and fear, I am choosing to speak up for you in hopes that you will do something great with me in every decision.