Come Hell or High Water

TOPIC: Persistence

SCRIPTURE: "And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work." (Nehemiah 4:15)

OBSERVATION: John Maxwell says, "One of the greatest tests of leadership is how you handle opposition. Nehemiah faced the usual tactics of the opposition: ridicule, resistance, and rumor. Nehemiah modeled the right response to all three of these challenges by...

Relying on God.
Respecting the opposition.
Reinforcing his weak points.
Reassuring the people.
Refusing to quit.
Renewing the people's strength continually.

Nehemiah had to deal with problems from without - ridicule, resistance, and rumor - and within - disputes about food, property, and taxes.

Persistence is the ultimate gauge of our leadership; the secret is to outlast our critics. Nehemiah taught us this lesson by staying committed to his ultimate calling." [The Maxwell Leadership Bible]

APPLICATION: So
would those closest to you

use these words:
Determination
Doggedness
Diligence
Resolve
Insistence
Tenacity
Firmness
Steadfastness
Persistence

to describe you?

PRAYER: Father God, help me to never look back, let up, slow down,
back away, or be still regarding what you have called me to do.