Determined to Not Quit

"...I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?" ~Nehemiah 6:3

I strongly admire Nehemiah's determination to not quit. He endured scandals and dealt with adversaries who were fixed on discouraging him from accomplishing the job of building the wall. However, he still had a boldness to pray, "O God, strengthen my hands." How prevalent are those words in your life? Despite the tests and trials and the naysayers who constantly oppose your efforts, can you still turn to God and ask for Him to strengthen you as you do His will? Can you push past the distractions that exist to make you come down? Can you push past the lies, slander, and defamation of character that exist to question your honesty and integrity? Can you push past the plot that is designed to damage your testimony and your personal walk with Christ?

Just like Nehemiah, God has a perfect will for your life and a great work for you to accomplish in His Kingdom. It is only when you know His will that you can do the work that He requires of you. I spent a season of my life working for man; yet, never knowing the full revelation behind God's perfect will for my life. I did everything I was asked to do with a spirit of excellence; and in every endeavor, I strived for greatness. I put my hands to the plow and used my gifts and talents constructively; however, there was still a void. I accepted leadership roles that "positioned" me to work, but I could not hear what God was saying concerning me or my household. I got so accustomed to hearing requests from others and becoming "busy" with work that I no longer had the peace of God. My accountability, loyalty and allegiance was now to people. I was bombarded with "doing", but hindered from "seeing" God's plan for my life. Please listen carefully! I am not discouraging you from working, but I am encouraging you to know that the work you do should count in the end.

I wholeheartedly believe that Nehemiah was determined to not quit because it was settled in his spirit that what he was doing really mattered in the long run. It was not a task he set forth to do for form or fashion. It was not a task he accepted because he was coerced into doing it. It was a task that God ordained for him to accomplish from the beginning of time. That's why he was able to call on God to strengthen his hands. Even with his enemies pursuing his life and seeking his demise, he knew God would not allow the work to cease. It was established to be completed, and it was indeed finished in fifty-two days! Let whatever you do count in the end.

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Here are the lyrics to the song, "Only What You Do for Christ Will Last".

You may build great cathedrals large or small,
you can build skyscrapers grand and tall,
you may conquer all the failures of the past,
but only what you do for Christ will last.

Remember only what You do for Christ will last.
Remember only what you do for Christ will last,
only what you do for Him will be counted at the end;
only what you do for Christ will last.

You may seek earthly power and fame,
the world might be impressed by your great name,
soon the glories of this life will all be past,
but only what you do for Christ will last.

Though your armies may control each hemisphere,
and your orbits out in space cause men to cheer,
your scientific knowledge may be vast,
but only what you do for Christ will last.

Though your song and prayers are heard and praised by man,
they've no meaning unless you've been born again,
sinner, heed these words, don't let this harvest pass,
for only what you do for Christ will last.