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The problem is not the storm!

Have you noticed that when the storms come, it also rains upon the righteous and the unrighteous. Storms hit us all. Jesus said in Matthew 7: 24-27, that the storm descended upon those who built their homes upon the rock and upon the sand. Everyone experiences storms. So the correct mindset is to always be prepared for the storms, not to hope that we never encounter storms. How we respond to storms determine whether or not the storm will destroy us. Jesus taught that those who build  on the rock are the ones who will not suffer destruction. Building on the rock consists on being rooted in the solid bedrock of God’s principles. As we abide in His principles, it creates a barrier of protection around us. When the enemy comes in like a flood, our faith will continue to be immovable. Contrast that with the one who builds on faulty principles, when the storms come, it will destroy them. In this parable, it wasn’t the home or the storm that allowed destruction. It was the decision to either build on rock or sand. So if you have suffered loss in the past, determine where you built your previous home, (beliefs, actions, mistakes, errors, failures), ask God for forgiveness, and begin again. This time however, build your future on the rock (His word, His principles, His love, His grace, His forgiveness). Next time the storm comes, you will be able to endure and overcome anything the enemy throws your way.

Matthew 7: 24-27 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

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This is a dangerous and foolish mindset!

I have seen an evil mindset and belief that has seeped into this generation. This belief is that we don’t need correction from our elders. We don’t need instruction. We don’t need anyone to tell us what we need to do. It has gotten so bad that many even get offended and angry when they are corrected, and will even shun or reject their parents, pastors or mentors because they attempted to correct something in them that could hurt them in the long-run. This mindset or belief is dangerous to your future. I understand that some people don’t know how to bring correction, but you can’t reject correction and instruction just because there are some who don’t know how to bring correction. Proverbs 9:9 says: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” When God is going to teach you something, He usually will bring a mentor to you. Even a difficult mentor can teach you a powerful truth. The key is to always be a student. Always be teachable. Some of the greatest lessons I’ve learned in life have come from very difficult circumstances, or from difficult, “hard to get along with” mentors, teachers or supervisors. Proverbs 1:7 says: “fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:22 says: “fools hate knowledge.” Think about it: Wise men receive instruction and become wiser; Fools reject and hate instruction, so they remain foolish and ignorant. Have you been wise, or have you  been behaving foolishly? Are you a student, or do you know it all? Something to consider today!