Listen and Follow

Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels.com

Good morning! Have you ever had a conversation with someone and they gave you good advice, but you didn’t follow it? Later on, did you think back and wish you had followed their advice? Today’s verses focus on building a solid foundation. So that, when things begin to shake around you, you will hold onto the Lord, your strong foundation. Enjoy today’s reading.

BIBLE VERSE – Matthew 7:24-27 NLT
“24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 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. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.””

REFLECTION

Throughout our devotions over the past two weeks, Jesus taught and in those teachings he presented two options.

Today the options consisted of:

  • Listen to His teachings and follow ahis teachings; or
  • Listen to His teachings and disobey His teachings.

Each option has a consequence. If we build our lives on Christ Jesus and His teachings so that even when storms come our foundation will not be shaken or collapse. However, if we choose not to follow Christ Jesus and His teachings (that is an option), but when the storms come there is no safety, things that you relyed on or trusted in will begin to fall apart and collapse.

Going back to the options that we read about over the past week, there are only two options:

Matthew 7:13-14 two kinds of roads and gates. One is the road to eternal life and the other is not.

Matthew 7:15-20 two kinds of trees. One that produces good fruit and one that does not.

Matthew 7: 24-27 two kinds of foundation. One that is solid and won’t collapse and one that is not and will collapse.

Brothers and sisters, we always have options, but make sure the option with Christ at the center is the first option that you choose.

Let the word of God be your strong foundation. No matter what is going on around you or what others say about God and/or Jesus Christ, follow Christ’s teachings. Read it, believe it and live it so that when the storms of life roar, as we know they do, we will remain confident in His teachings and we will be unmoved/unshaken. Keep your eyes focused on the Lord. Stand firm on the word.

PRAYER

Father God, in the name of Jesus, we come to you in prayer. Lord, we thank you for the love and peace that you give us. Lord, forgive us when we fail to keep our eyes focused on you. Lord, you know our worries and concerns, you know our financial, mental and spiritual conditions, and you know our hearts. Lord, strengthen our faith. Lord, give us your perfect peace. Lord, be our foundation in which we can stand…all other ground is sinking sand. Lord, help us and guide us today. Lord, wherever there is lack of faith, equip us with more faith. Wherever there is lack, provide for that need. If it is wisdom we seek, make us wise. If it is brokenness and tears we shed, comfort us and make us whole.  Lord, comfort the mother and father who are mourning the loss of their son or daughter. Lord, give them your supernatural strength and comfort as they navigate their loss. Lord, we pray for those who have been diagnosed with cancer and we ask for healing in their body – we pray for remission, removal, and the end of cancer. Lord, we pray for families to be healed and restored. We continue to pray for our nation and ask for stability in decisions, and for bias, violence, extremism, and bigotry to end – not just for our nation, but around the world. Lord, restore order from the chaos. Open doors of employment for those seeking jobs. Give them favor in job interviews and with hiring committees.

Lord, you know every detail about us, Lord, we give it all to you. Lord, have your way. Keep changing us. In Jesus name, amen!

——-

  • SAVE THE DATE – For Our Next Women’s Retreat

Saturday, July 19, 2025 we will host our next Women’s Retreat. Our theme for the retreat is taken from Ephesians 6:10-17.

Our Theme is: She is Armed & Dangerous  – “Take the helmet of salvation & the sword of the spirit.”

Arboretum

Thanks to our faithful donors, the retreat will be in-person and virtual participation. Stay tuned for more updates. We have 75 seats available. Tickets go on sale on April 1, 2025.

  • LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS

Sisters, we are looking for volunteers for our upcoming events and also to fill an open Board position. Our next meeting is on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom.

If you would like to join us or get more information, please send an email to: contactus@maryewhiteministries.com

We want to hear from you. Leave a reply