"Faith" or "Faint" goals?

It’s not new for us to write down our faith goals and dreams that we are aspiring for this coming new year. We get emotional as the year ends -- we reminisce the good times and suppress the bad memories -- and we are all headed in a direction to make brand new beginnings for this new year. The faith goals that we try to work on could be our desires, needs, prayers or wishes for ourselves or other people, but our goals shouldn’t just be based in the emotional ground or they may just crumble down when whirlwinds of life hover on us. It can be frustrating for us. I also believe that goals shouldn’t be based on a pure logical perspective or we may miss God’s greater plan for us. Rather faith goals are to be planted and balanced in the faith ground and aligned with God’s will. Perhaps people can oppose our dreams and beliefs, just like how Nehemiah went through and how he struggled with some oppositional leaders who stated, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?” and they continue to hurl insults at them... “That stone wall would collapse, if even a fox walked along the top of it!” (Nehemiah 4:2-3) But Nehemiah didn’t allow any kind of opposition to bring down his ”faith goals” and the dream of restoring Jerusalem’s walls. His faith didn’t faint. He had the eyes of faith. The faith that he had and the habit of praying grew much stronger even to the point of life & death matter (not that I’m saying you get yourself killed?) He also encouraged the people involved in the building of walls, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome." (Nehemiah 4:14) He constantly woke their spirit of fear into faith, since faith is the opposite of fear. He also exclaimed with the assurance of faith, “Our God will fight for us!” (Nehemiah 4:20)

From the start of His dreaming/planning state, to the journey of intervention of plans, up to the very period of success in everything, Nehemiah dedicated his whole heart and every decision & action unto the Lord. Putting God the center of everything… “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matt 6:33)

This faith challenge serves as a challenge for me as well-- to have the Nehemiah eyes-of-faith attitude: “The God of heaven will give us success.” (Nehemiah 2:20) Even before their success came to past, Nehemiah believed and stated those words from the very beginning when nothing yet was built; it became his blueprint in mind and heart, and he never doubted! Another thing, there is also nothing wrong in piling up our list of goals, but more importantly, we need to pile up our faith first as the very foundation all the way. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

“…And without faith it is impossible to please God.” Hebrews 11:6