Determined is defined as “having made a firm decision and being resolved not to change it.”
Nehemiah is a man of faith that was moved by his love for God and His people to do something amazing! God gave him the calling to rebuild Jerusalem. What a daunting task for one man. There were plenty of people telling him that it could not be done. When God gives us a vision for serving Him, you can rest assured there will be critics, naysayers, accusers and obstacles. Sometimes our determination waivers and fails. Our words sound strong but our hearts are set on serving in our own strength. God gives us unfathomable tasks, in order to draw us to depend upon Him.
Thomas Edison conducted two thousand experiments before he invented the correct filament needed to invent the first light bulb. When asked how it felt to fail so many times, Edison replied, “I never failed once, inventing the light bulb just happened to be a two-thousand step process.”
Determination turns our failures into stepping stones! Determination keeps us focused on our calling. Over the next few Sundays in morning worship we will walk through the pages of Nehemiah and find the strength to be determined. Determined to serve the Lord in tasks that are bigger than ourselves. Our family, church, friends and culture need believers who are determined. God has a plan for you! God has a plan for Homeland Park Baptist Church. May we worship, pray, walk and serve together as God’s children, determined to see His glory renowned!
Determined,
Pastor James