It is only when you are assured of the rightness of your plan that you are able to rise above the inevitable doubts and obstacles that will appear to stop it. Therefore, before you embark on a new path, settle its rightness in your heart.

Nehemiah is a good example for us. He served as royal cupbearer to the pagan King Artaxerxes during a time when Israel was in captivity. When Nehemiah heard about the broken condition of Jerusalem his heart was overcome with sadness. He wanted to be given leave to return to the city and rebuild the walls.

His deep burden came from God and God answered his prayer by leaning the king’s heart toward the cause. But when he arrived in Jerusalem everything was against him. The city was in terrible condition, the people were despondent and the evil and powerful Sanballat protested even though Nehemiah had letters of authorization.

With so many obstacles it would have been natural to second-guess the decision to come in the first place or to give up quickly and slink away with a weak “Well, I tried.” Instead, Nehemiah was undeterred. He knew the rightness of his plan.

I love his strong declaration in the face of impossible odds. “The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right, or memorial in Jerusalem” (Nehemiah 2:20).

Did he succeed? You betcha! You can too. Now think about it. Are you sure God inspired your plan? Has He commissioned you to accomplish it? Then let nothing stop you from going forward because in that case you cant lose.