What Am I Building Upon Today?

Do you ever have those times when God is trying to get your attention with something and He keeps hounding you about it until you listen? This morning definitely has been that way for me. I woke up early to get to work cramming for my tax and audit final that I take today. Totally ignoring my usual quiet time with Him in the morning, I dove right into the depths of studying. A few minutes later, I get a phone call from my old roommate who is on a STINT (year long missions trip) in East Asia. It was unexpected and great to hear his voice. During the conversation he gently reminded me of things that are priority in my life, but when I got off the phone, I immediately went back to focusing and stressing out about studying. After a couple of hours of studying and the growing stress affecting my stomach, I decided maybe I'll crack open the Word for just a moment to see if I could just relax a little. I opened up to Matthew 7:24-28.

As I read the light went off in my head. You see, the verses are a parable about a man building his house on two different foundations, one of sand and one of stone. When rain and floods come the man with the stone foundation survives, while the man with sand gets swept away. What had I been doing this morning? I was so intent on getting my A for the course, that I hadn't noticed that I had been building with sand for the day. Even by His gentle reminders that I should focus on stone, my aim was to win the acceptance of man through my accomplishments. The rains of stress were pouring down during the day and as a result my creaking house was slowly starting to move. And yet, God in his provision did not allow me to get too far away from the solid foundation he has built in me over the last few years. He stepped in and nudged my heart to go to His Word. After spending some time in it and exchanging my daily sand for stone, I feel much better about the rains of stress that are pouring down today. Even in the midst of this finals storm, I can now see clearly and focus on what truly is important in my life, my growing relationship with my Savior.

The lyrics of a Casting Crowns song keep running through my head. "And he works, and he builds with his own two hands. And he pours all he has into a castle made of sand. But the wind and the rain are coming crashing in. Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands" (American Dreams).

God's gentle reminders help me out immensely. Keep building moment by moment on solid ground my friends. Daily strive after the Kingdom and deepening your relationship with God. His security and peace are priceless in today's world.