What practical steps ensure our foundation is on "rock" and not "sand"? The Picture Jesus Paints “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse.” (Matthew 7:24-27) Step 1: Start With the Only True Foundation—Jesus – 1 Corinthians 3:11: “For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” – Receive Him as Lord (John 1:12), trust Him alone for salvation (Acts 4:12). – Daily remind yourself: every decision, ambition, and relationship must sit on Christ’s authority. Step 2: Hear the Word Consistently – Schedule daily Scripture intake—reading, listening, or studying. – Use a reading plan that covers all of Scripture, not just favorite passages (2 Timothy 3:16-17). – Take notes; underline truths the Spirit highlights. Step 3: Do What the Word Says – James 1:22: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” – After each reading, ask, “What action does this call for today?” then obey immediately. – Keep a journal of verses obeyed; review to celebrate faithfulness and spot gaps. Step 4: Deepen Roots Through Prayer and Worship – Philippians 4:6-7; Colossians 2:6-7. – Set aside focused prayer time; talk with God about everything. – Sing, praise, and thank Him—worship anchors the heart when storms hit. Step 5: Commit to Accountable Community – Hebrews 10:24-25; Ephesians 4:11-16. – Join a Bible-preaching church; attend faithfully. – Invite mature believers to ask hard questions about your walk, habits, and attitudes. Step 6: Practice Ongoing Repentance – 1 John 1:9; Luke 6:46. – Confess sin quickly; don’t let unrepentant patterns pile up like unstable sand. – Replace sinful habits with righteous routines (Ephesians 4:22-24). Step 7: Persevere When Storms Come – Trials expose what we’re built on (1 Peter 1:6-7; Romans 5:3-5). – Instead of questioning the foundation, lean harder on it—pray more, cling to promises, serve others. – Remember Jesus’ guarantee: storms may shake the house, but they cannot topple it when it sits on Him. Quick Self-Check: Are You Building on Rock? – Scripture shapes your calendar and budget. – Obedience follows conviction without delay. – Prayer and worship are regular, not emergency-only. – Trusted believers have permission to speak into your life. – Storms deepen your dependence on Christ rather than erode it. Encouraging Promise Build on Christ, hear His word, do what He says—and when rains pound, torrents rise, and winds howl, “it did not fall.” The Rock holds. |
    |