21 Days of Prayer and Fasting

Day 5

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” —Luke 6:46-49

Why would someone want to build a house on such unstable ground as sand? This builder might have chosen to ignore the storm warnings, thinking that disaster would not strike him. Whatever his reason, the man who built his house on sand paid a solemn price - he lost everything. Jesus compared this man to those who listen, but do not obey. The sand-builder hears the words of Jesus but doesn’t apply them to his life. Thus, when the storms of life assail him, his faith is weak and he crumbles.

However, the man who builds on a firm foundation is not swayed, even when the floodwaters break against his house. This is a person of faith and action. In his daily life, he is putting into action the principles he learned from the Bible. He doesn’t just listen; he obeys. Such a believer can weather any storm, because his foundation - Jesus Christ - is immovable. When you build a strong foundation - by reading God’s Word and deepening your understanding of your faith - you can stand strong in any trial. No matter what storms rage around you, your foundation will stand strong.