Before anything can change in our lives, we have to be willing, to be honest with ourselves: honest about our shortcomings, honest about the nature of our circumstances, honest about who we are and who God is, honest about what God is asking of us. The amazing story of Nehemiah hinges on his honesty and integrity––he was willing to acknowledge not only the amount of work it would take to rebuild Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity but to admit his sins and the sins of his people. He came clean before God and led his people back to pure and honest worship––the beginning of true restoration (for them and for us).