“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”–Matthew 7:24-27.
I love watching thunderstorms. I can feel the wind change, something in the air tells me that one is on its way. Sometimes it is the single melody of a lone robin that alerts me. Yesterday I watched such a storm roll in. I was on my 3-season porch, felt the change in the air, saw the wind pick up. The sky got darker and darker, almost twilight for late afternoon. The trees looked chartreuse-green, their leaves roiling in the wind. An eerie quiet permeated the air. Life had disappeared, no more birds singing, everything was preparing for the impending storm.
And then it broke loose! Water battered every surface, rivers cascaded off my roof and spewed out of my gutters onto the lawn. As I listened to it hit, I noticed more and more “ping” sounds, and looked out to see hail bouncing off the roof. Marble-sized hail plummeted from the sky, ricocheting off every surface–the patio furniture, plants, and shingles. It was truly a spectacle! After many minutes of hail, it began to let up, and soon the water reduced to a shower, then little trickles. My yard and patio were littered with hard white balls of ice. The clouds began to break up and later that evening as I watched steam come up from my yard and the rabbits nibble on grass under my trees, I reflected on how good it feels to weather a storm. In a strong home, protected, there is such a good feeling. I have been in thunderstorms in a boat and on a golf course, and there is no comfort if you don’t have shelter.
Jesus’ parable spoke to me this morning. It reminded me that I need to always build my house on the rock, my life on His words. Then I can weather any storm. Though life can beat on me and try to knock me over with wind, hail, tornados, there my house will stand. Strong, protected, peaceful. The times I don’t listen to God and do my own thing, I notice a lack of peace, increased anxiety, and things in life just don’t go as well. Sometimes things literally fall apart, much like the foolish man who built his house on sand.
What about you? Where do you need to build your life on God’s words today? What storms are you trying to weather? Put your foundation on the rock and know God will keep you strong so you can weather any storm!
Prayer–“God of peace, help me build a strong foundation in you. Make me wise to your ways and a follower of your word so that I can weather any storm that comes my way. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
Prayer For All Days 