Determination and Passion to Accomplish a Purpose

 “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" (Nehemiah 6:3)
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Nehemiah encountered just about every form of opposition imaginable in re-building the walls of Jerusalem. His enemies threw many things in his way to cause him to fail. But, in spite of every plan they could come up with, Nehemiah did not give up. He was determined to accomplish his purpose, and encouraged the people to do the same.
  
Today, many of God’s people are facing some of the same challenges as Nehemiah did.  There may be some of you right now who are facing challenges that are distracting you from accomplishing your purpose.  And yet, there are others who have already given up, because the challenges had become too overwhelming. 
 
My friends, just as the enemy is determined to prevent you from accomplishing your purpose, you must be just as determined to stick with it from the beginning to the end, no matter what. This comes with the understanding that there will be challenges and obstacles along the way.
 
To think you will not encounter difficulties when you set out to do something, you have already set yourself up to be disappointed and possibly to fail. Giving up is always the easiest way out. When you give up, Satan not only wins in preventing you from accomplishing your purpose, he would have proven that you would not be committed to the work.
 
I want to reassure you with encouragement that, God does not want you to fail - that is why he has made himself available to you so you can talk to him about any issues or concerns that may be preventing you from accomplishing your purpose. This is what Nehemiah did, he took his issues and concerns to God, and then he trusted God. When you put your trust in God no plots, words of discouragements, harsh comments or resource issues will be able to prevent you from accomplishing your purpose. 
  
Here's what we can learn from Nehemiah’s story:
 
1.  His Vision - He foresaw what the walls of Jerusalem would look like, an image of something that had not yet happened, but believed that it would happen.
 
2.  His Goal - To bring the vision to pass, to make it happen, to begin and finish the wall.
 
3.  His Plan of Action:

• Get permission from his employer to leave on assignment.
• Get letters from his employer to give to government officials for permission to pass through their respective districts to Judah, and for men to accompany him on the way for protection.
• Get letter from employer to give to caretaker of the king’s forest for supply of timber.
• Meet with the people to give them words of encouragement.

4.  His Faith - Despite opposition from the enemy, Nehemiah continued to trust God for support, provision and protection.   
 
5.  His Wisdom - He followed the leading of the Lord in every decision, every action and every response to his enemies.             
 
6.  His Determination - He had an eagerness to complete the project. He didn’t give up despite his enemy’s plan to cause him to fail, instead he trusted in the plan God had for him to succeed.     
 
7.  His Passion - It was in him, became part of him, and was what empowered him.
 
From the beginning to the finishing of Nehemiah’s project, the gracious hand of God was upon him guiding him in the direction to take, and instructing him in handling challenges and oppositions when they came. All Nehemiah did was followed His lead, obeyed His word, and trusted Him in every step of the way, despite much opposition.
 
Whatever problems or obstacles you may be experiencing, talk to the Lord about it, leave it in His hands, then continue on with your work. Be determined to stick with your work and accomplish your goals. You are doing a great work for the Kingdom of God. Stick with it, and don’t give up!
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Copyright © 2017 by Gale Wilcox. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture passages quoted are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.