Firm Foundation

   There is a little story in the Bible that Jesus tells His disciples to encourage them to obey His Word. In Matthew 7:24-25 Jesus compares those who both hear and do His Word to a house that is built on a rock. When the rain, flood waters and winds came and beat against that house it did not fall but was able to stand because it was built on a rock. 
    That portion of Scripture has come back to me during a challenging season in my life. I am reminded of it thanks to a song by Cody Carnes entitled, "Firm Foundation (He won’t)." This song has become like an anthem to me. From the very first verse we are reminded of God’s sovereignty and His inability to fail. 
    Christ is my firm foundation the Rock on which I stand
    When everything around me is shaken I’ve never been more glad
    That I put my faith in Jesus ‘cause He’s never let me down
    He’s faithful through generations so why would He fail now?
    He won’t
The reality is that when you choose to make Jesus your foundation, your focus, your strength and support, you can rest assured that you are “safe.” He is obligated to cover you, protect you, keep you safe in His arms and care … but you MUST trust Him!
    Why do you think King David survived trial after trial? Why do you think He was a man after God’s own heart? He put his complete trust, faith and confidence in his God. Even when he failed he turned his focus and his heart right back to his God and trusted Him to see him through. Whether he was being pursued by King Saul who wanted to kill him or betrayed by his son, Absalom, who tried to take the kingdom away from him many years later when he was king, he trusted in his God. A number of his psalms reveal his choice to trust in his God in times of trouble: For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion. In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me, He shall set me high upon a rock (Psalm 27:5); The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him and I am helped (Psalm 28:7a). 
    Who are you putting your trust in - family, friends, some other source? Over the years, God has been teaching me to put my trust totally and completely in Him. There was a time when family and friends may have been my first line of support.  I realise now that I am running to people first less and less. In recent years, God has been teaching me to run to Him first. It’s a choice to trust Him above all others, to believe and understand that He and He alone can and will get me through whatever situation I may be going through. It’s not that people cannot help but God wants to be my first line of protection and defense; the One I run to first when I am facing challenges. God has never failed me; He has never abandoned me; He has never let me down. I am glad that I can speak from experience instead of simply through the testimony of others. I encourage you as well to let God be the first One you run to. Stand on His Word, it will not fail you. When family, friends and others fail you, just know that God never will. His Word is sure and it must accomplish what He desires it to accomplish (Isaiah 55:11). 
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so now because when life’s storms come your way - and they will - you need a solid and safe foundation to stand on. Jesus is that foundation and He will never leave you, forsake you or fail you. Just trust Him!

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