How to Build Faith That Overcomes the World
OPENING PRAYER:
“Heavenly Father, help me to have a growing desire for your word. Help me to love your word more and see ways I can live like you, instead of the world.”
READ:
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27)
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. (Colossians 2:6-8)
REFLECT:
When building a house, the builders are careful when they lay the foundation because that’s what holds the house in place. The builders are also careful when they start laying down the bricks, putting up the walls, creating the rooms, and eventually placing the roof on top. It’s a meticulous job that if not done intentionally, the house will fall.
We are building a house in our lives as well. Except for us, it’s our faith. It’s tempting to allow our emotions, what we see in the world, what our friends who aren’t following Jesus are doing, and our flesh to build the house. When that happens, the house isn’t firm and it will likely fade away when a tough circumstance comes, as goes for our faith. Psalm 127:1 says this, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders work for nothing.” The life we are building needs to have faith as the firm foundation or it won’t last. Jesus calls us to cruciform in shape as we become more and more like him and as we do this, the ways and tendencies of the world fade away from us.
APPLY:
As believers, Jesus is the foundation of everything we do. It may mean listening to different music, choosing to be calm next time you get angry or forgiving someone who wronged you. We must be intentional by taking small steps every day to build a strong foundation in faith.
CLOSING PRAYER:
“Heavenly Father, help me to cruciform in shape and become more and more like you. Give me the strength to say “no” to things that are not beneficial, and say “yes” to your ways. Amen.”