Joe Bex, Realtor

Choose Your Foundation

Imagine standing next to the sea as waves crash at your feet, storm clouds swallow the sky, and the wind whips your face.

You know you need shelter—and that’s when you see a small hut nestled in the sand nearby, and one further away that’s firmly built into a rocky hill. Which shelter would you choose to take cover in?

2,000 years ago, when Jesus walked this earth, He often told stories to the crowds that gathered around to hear Him teach. One day, He said to them:

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.” ‭‭
Matthew‬ ‭7:24-25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As was His way, Jesus used real-life examples to help explain spiritual truths:

“But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:26-27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We are all building our lives on something. Every decision we make reinforces what we believe our support system to be. So when life’s storms come, will the thing you’ve built your life on support you—or cause you to crumble?

Jesus’ teachings have remained reliable and steadfast through social upheaval, the rise and fall of government regimes, and generations of historic change. No matter what has happened—God’s Word still stands firm.

Teachings from the world, on the other hand, tend to shift with each generation. Like shifting sand, what current culture provides is usually unstable because its values are constantly changing.

Storms are inevitable and challenges will come, but you get to choose your foundation. You can choose to make Jesus the one thing you build your life upon, or you can choose whatever habit, idea, or desire feels good and accessible in the moment.

So … what will you build your life upon?

Cultivating Honest Conversations with God

Prayer is one of the most important habits we can develop. Not only does Scripture command us to pray often, but there are tremendous benefits to building a life of prayer.

Prayer connects us relationally to God. We can thank God for who He is and what He has done for us during our prayer time. We can ask Him for things that we need.

Even though we know we should pray, we often do not take the time to do it. Unless we set aside time to talk to God, it doesn’t always find a way into our daily schedules. But Paul, the writer of the letter to the Ephesians, urges Christians to build a life of prayer. He says that every occasion is a chance to talk to God.

All of our requests and needs should be given to God. However, our time praying should not only be asking God for things. We should also spend part of our time in worship—thanking God for who He is and all He has done.

Paul also encourages us to pray for other people. In fact, part of our responsibility towards others is to advocate for them through prayer. We typically remember to pray for others when something negative is happening to them. But God’s Word says we should always be praying for the people in our life.

As we pray, we should not be discouraged when we don’t see immediate change. God is always working in our lives, even if it doesn’t match our desired timeline. We may not receive the answers we want, but we can rest assured that God is always listening and working on our behalf.

Take some time today to pray to God. Thank Him for all He has done for you. Tell Him your needs. Think of a few people in your life that you can pray for. Throughout your week, use every opportunity to pray to God.

Walking Through Trials

Let's start by debunking a myth: Nowhere in Scripture does God promise us a perfect life, free from troubles. In fact, many times in the Bible, Christ-followers find themselves persecuted, under attack, or facing trouble of all kinds.

In a letter from James to first-century believers, James informs them about the various trials that they will experience in life:

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."
James 1:12 NIV

When we see trials as a means of becoming more like Jesus, we can be blessed by them.

Think back to a difficult season of life. Looking back, you might be able to see how God used that trial to refine you, or teach you something. God is often at work behind the scenes—deepening our character and enlarging our capacity, even when we don't see it.

Maybe you're going through one of those difficult seasons right now. Take this passage to heart! You can persevere knowing there is a promised reward for us in heaven. While rewards on this side of heaven are not promised, looking towards our final destination with Jesus gives us hope to endure the trials in the present.

If you’re walking through a difficult season of life, spend some time meditating on the promises of God. He promises to never abandon you or leave you, but to walk alongside you through trials. And at the end of the trial, you’ll be more like Christ.

Take a moment to thank God for His faithfulness in your life.

God Is With You

Have you ever asked God, “Where are you?”

Some days it can feel like you’re walking alone through life. It can seem like God is not present or with you. Or maybe it feels like He has deserted you in a difficult time.

The nation of Israel experienced many moments like this. They cried out to God in the midst of pain and exile. They were honest in their prayers to God—they told Him exactly how they felt in the midst of hardship.

In turn, God spoke to them through the prophets. He spoke words of comfort and hope. He reminded them of His promises, and that His character never changes.

While it can sometimes seem like God deserts us, we know from His promises that He is always with us. Through life’s loneliest times or most difficult seasons, God is right next to us. He walks through every season of life by our side.

Not only is He with us, but He also promises to strengthen us and help us in times of difficulty. When we feel like we’ve run out of strength to continue, God will provide His strength for us.

God will provide the help we need to keep living in His will. He doesn’t promise to give us strength to do whatever we want, but rather—He gives us courage and empowerment to continue walking according to His plans for our life.

So, in seasons of hardship when we feel like we’ve run empty, we should lean into God’s promises and trust Him. We should trust that He will empower us and strengthen us for whatever we’re facing.

Take some time today to pray to God. If He feels distant, ask Him to be close to you. If you feel weak, ask Him to strengthen you. He promises to uphold you, so trust in His promises. Continue to build a relationship with God and seek His presence. As you do, you’ll find a renewed strength as you walk through life with Him.

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Commit to the Work

It’s a complex dance—being faithful with the opportunities God gives you while also trusting Him with the variables that are out of your control.

The writer of Proverbs, typically attributed to King Solomon, said this:

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

It sounds simple enough—to commit your work to the Lord. But it takes intentional effort, continual surrender, and genuine trust.

Throughout Scripture, we see all kinds of work: farming, building, pastoring, parenting, fishing, doctoring, leading, designing, singing, writing, engineering, shepherding, and much more.

In his letter to the Roman believers, Paul discusses talents and gifts when he says:

“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:6-8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You can commit your work to God by:

- honoring Him with your efforts
- valuing the people you interact with
- faithfully returning the tithe
- promoting truth and love
- living graciously and generously
- thoughtfully utilizing your time
- leveraging your God-given creativity to glorify Him

You can plant a seed in good soil, position it for ideal sunlight, and water it consistently, but—above all—it’s God who gave you the seed and it’s God who makes the seed grow.

Our job is obedience, God’s job is everything else. So whatever you do, commit your work, your efforts, and your life to Him—and watch Him work through you.