The Daily Devotional of Upper Room of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Foundation on the Rock" for Saturday, 2 April 2016 with Scripture Luke 6:47 Everyone who comes to me, hears my words and acts on them — I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like someone building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on bedrock. When a flood came, the torrent beat against that house but couldn’t shake it, because it was constructed well. 49 And whoever hears my words but doesn’t act on them is like someone who built his house on the ground without any foundation. As soon as the river struck it, it collapsed and that house became a horrendous wreck!”Walking along the lakeshore, I looked to the path above. Earlier, while on that path, I had seen signs warning hikers to keep back from the edge; but everything had looked fine. Trees were still growing along the path. But later, from below I could see that the winter storms had ravaged the bank and in many places had left an overhang with no foundation to support it. When I saw roots dangling free beneath a thin layer of soil, I knew that the trees would not survive for long. Without a solid foundation to anchor them, they could come crashing down at any minute.
This scene was a vivid reminder of what life would be like without the firm foundation that God provides. From the outside our lives may look fine. But the sorrow of loss, the pain of illness, or the hurt of rejection has shaken us. In Philippians 4:13 the apostle Paul wrote, “I can do all things through [Christ] who strengthens me.” By spending time reading the Bible and talking with God in prayer, we build the firm foundation that can keep us secure through life’s storms.
Read more from the author, here.More from Tandy Balson
At the time I wrote this meditation there were challenges in my life that many around me were unaware of. My husband had developed a rapid heartbeat and we were awaiting a surgical procedure that we hoped would restore his heart to normal rhythm. A previous procedure had failed to produce the needed results. He was frustrated with not being able to carry out his normal routine. The high doses of medication had left him lethargic and depressed but did nothing to alleviate his symptoms.
The upcoming procedure was our last hope. He didn’t want to worry me so said very little about his discomfort. This became the elephant in the room that nobody talked about. The fear of losing him was never far from my mind.
My prayer life intensified and I found that the more I prayed and read my Bible, the more peace I felt. The foundation I built with God was holding me up and keeping me from crumbling.
The day of the surgery my husband and I both were peaceful and optimistic. In fact, I sang praises to the Lord as I drove away from the hospital. The outcome was in God's hands and I trusted him completely.
It has now been over a year and my husband has been fully restored to health.
We walked along the same lakeshore as in my earlier story. The sign cautioning us to keep back from the edge was now lying on the ground below. Without a firm foundation to hold it in place it couldn’t remain standing.
To quote a line from my earlier story, “This was a vivid reminder of what life would be like without the firm foundation that God provides.” We relied on God and he gave us the strength to handle the storm we went through. Now I truly know the meaning of peace that passes all understanding.[Tandy Balson, Tandy blogs at http://timewithtandy.com.]
The Author: Tandy Balson (Alberta, Canada)
Thought for the Day: God gives me strength to handle today’s storms.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for providing the firm foundation that we need to remain strong amid the storms of life. Amen.
Prayer focus: Hikers
The upcoming procedure was our last hope. He didn’t want to worry me so said very little about his discomfort. This became the elephant in the room that nobody talked about. The fear of losing him was never far from my mind.
My prayer life intensified and I found that the more I prayed and read my Bible, the more peace I felt. The foundation I built with God was holding me up and keeping me from crumbling.
The day of the surgery my husband and I both were peaceful and optimistic. In fact, I sang praises to the Lord as I drove away from the hospital. The outcome was in God's hands and I trusted him completely.
It has now been over a year and my husband has been fully restored to health.
We walked along the same lakeshore as in my earlier story. The sign cautioning us to keep back from the edge was now lying on the ground below. Without a firm foundation to hold it in place it couldn’t remain standing.
To quote a line from my earlier story, “This was a vivid reminder of what life would be like without the firm foundation that God provides.” We relied on God and he gave us the strength to handle the storm we went through. Now I truly know the meaning of peace that passes all understanding.[Tandy Balson, Tandy blogs at http://timewithtandy.com.]
The Author: Tandy Balson (Alberta, Canada)
Thought for the Day: God gives me strength to handle today’s storms.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for providing the firm foundation that we need to remain strong amid the storms of life. Amen.
Prayer focus: Hikers
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