A Life Rooted in God’s Word

“A life rooted in God’s Word may face storms, but it will not be shaken.”

Psalm 1:2–3
“But whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night... That person is like a tree planted by streams of water.”

The strength of a tree is not found only in its branches; it is found in how deeply its roots are established. When the wind blows, the branches may sway. When a great storm comes, branches may break and leaves may fall. But a tree with deep roots will stand firm and will not easily fall.

In the same way, the Bible does not say that a Christian life will be free from problems. Storms will come, trials will come, tears will come, and unexpected circumstances will arise. But a heart rooted in God’s Word will not be shaken by those circumstances.

In Matthew 7:24–25, Jesus compares the person who hears His words and puts them into practice to a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came, the floods rose, and the winds blew against that house—yet it did not fall. Why? Because its foundation was built on the rock.

What is the foundation of our life today? Is it money? People? Our abilities? All these things can change. But God’s Word never changes.

As roots grow deeper, a tree becomes stronger. In the same way, as God’s Word goes deeper into our hearts, our faith becomes stronger.

Therefore, instead of only praying that storms will never come, let us become so deeply rooted in God’s Word that we can stand firm even when the storms come. Even when circumstances change, people change, and we do not know what tomorrow holds, let us hold firmly to what God has spoken.

A life rooted in God’s Word may be shaken by the storm, but it can never be uprooted.

“Be deeply rooted in God’s Word; no storm in life will be able to shake you.”

Hepsi Sam

Good evening, brethren.
1. Evening devotion for today.

ED.i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST*
(COCIN DEVOTIONAL)

*DATE:*
TUESDAY 18TH AUGUST 2026.

*SUB-THEME:*
YOUTHS: VESSELS OF GOD’S GRACE.

*TOPIC:*
EMPOWERED FOR UPRIGHT LIVING.

*TEXT:*
TITUS 2:12–13
12 It trains us to renounce ungodly living and worldly passions so that we might live sensible, honest, and godly lives in the present age Eph 1:4 Col 1:22 2Ti 1:9 1Jn 2:16
13 as we wait for the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus the Messiah. 1Co 1:7 Phi 3:20

*TOPIC:*
EMPOWERED FOR UPRIGHT LIVING.

*THE MESSAGE:*
Upright living refers to a lifestyle characterized by moral integrity, righteousness, and adherence to God’s commandments. God created us to live extraordinary lives without struggle - a life above the power of sin, a product of grace. Man failed by disobeying and could not live an upright life. The salvation Jesus wrought restored man to the life he was expected to live.
As recipients of God’s grace, we are empowered to live in a new way. Have you received the power to live this new life, or are you still entangled by sexual immorality, lying, and deception? The grace of God is potent to train you to renounce impiety and worldly passions. You must lean on Jesus to live a self-controlled, upright, and godly life in this present age.

*REFLECTION:*
You are empowered to live an upright life.

*PRAYER:*
Lord, help me to display this enabling grace daily.

*MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:*
2 TIMOTHY 2:21.
"If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be instruments for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work."

*TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:*
EZEKIEL 7-11.

ED.ii. LOT'S FATAL DECISIONS

"Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah — from the Lord out of the heavens. Thus He overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land." - Genesis 19:24-25

Abraham was blessed by God and because his nephew Lot was with him, Lot was also blessed. Both had large flocks. At one point the shepherds of both flocks started to fight because there was not enough space. Abraham then let Lot choose to go either to the left or to the right. Lot saw that the Jordan area was good and made his first fatal choice. Lot chose the best for himself. It was his first step towards Sodom. It did not occur to him to consult the Lord first. So many Christians today do the same and make their own choices based on what they see, instead of asking for the Lord's guidance. Many follow the money. The evil one mainly whispers to young people: 'If you go for the money, you can achieve everything.' However, God's way is always the best way.

Lot's second fatal decision is to pitch his tents nearby Sodom. 'Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord' (Genesis 13:13). Once you take one step in the wrong direction, it will not be long before you are completely on the wrong track.

Lot's third fatal step is in Genesis 14:12, it says that 'he was living in Sodom.' So, it did not take long before Lot lived in the city of Sodom.

God had to destroy Sodom because of the wickedness. It was because of Abraham's prayer for Lot and his family that God gave them an opportunity to flee the city.

Dear reader, one day God will destroy this world as He did with Sodom and Gomorrah. Do not make fatal choices. Do not join the sinful practices of this world. Always choose to go the way of Jesus.


https://www.theblessingdevotional.com

2. Evening Prayer for today.

EP.i. Evening Prayer

But the mercy of the LORD [is] from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; ⏤ Psalm 103:17

There is no pit so deep, that God's love is not deeper still. ⏤ Corrie ten Boom

We come with grateful hearts to You, O God, our Father. We will praise You as long as we live. We call on our souls and all that is within us to bless Your holy name and never forget Your blessings. You forgive all our sins. You heal all our diseases. You redeem our lives from destruction. You crown us with love and compassion. You satisfy our needs with good things, so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

You, Lord, are merciful and gracious, slow to anger and full of mercy. You won’t stay angry forever, nor will You hold our sins against us forever. You have not treated us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is Your mercy toward those who fear You. As far as the east is from the west, so far have You removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so You have compassion on those who fear You. For You know how we are formed; You remember that we are dust.

Our days are like grass; we flourish like a flower of the field. The wind blows over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But Your mercy, O Lord, is from everlasting to everlasting. We rejoice in Your eternity. We rest in it, knowing that our trust in You will never be shaken. The mountains may depart, and the hills may be removed, but Your kindness will never depart from us, nor will Your covenant of peace be removed.

Grant us Your peace now, our Father, and keep us safe in the secret place of Your presence throughout the night. Bless us with Your tender love, we ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. Amen.

https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/44/evening

#taptapstudio
#youdevotion.

*TODAY'S PROPHETIC DECLARATION - THURSDAY, 13TH AUGUST, 2026.*

*YOU SHALL HAVE CONFIDENCE BECAUSE THERE IS HOPE*

Scripture:
“And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.” — Job 11:18 (KJV).

*Reflection – Hope Gives Us Confidence*

Job 11:18 reminds us that hope in God produces confidence and security. When our trust is placed in the Lord, we do not have to live continually controlled by fear about tomorrow.

There may be uncertainties concerning our future, family, ministry, work, business, studies, or personal plans, but the believer's confidence rests in the faithfulness of God. Our circumstances may change, but God remains constant.

Hope does not mean that we deny difficulties. Rather, it means that we face them knowing that God is with us and that our future is ultimately in His hands.

Today, lift your eyes above your present circumstances. There is hope. There is a future. There is a God who is able to sustain you and lead you safely through every season.

*Prophetic Declaration:*
Today, I declare that I shall have confidence because there is hope. My future is not controlled by fear, uncertainty, or the plans of people; it is safely held in the hands of Almighty God.

I declare that every spirit of anxiety, discouragement, hopelessness, and fear concerning tomorrow is broken by the grace of God. I receive a renewed mind, a courageous heart, and unwavering confidence in the promises of the Lord.

Today, I shall rest securely because God is my Refuge and my Defender. I refuse to allow the challenges around me to steal my peace. The Lord shall give me grace to sleep peacefully, work faithfully, and live confidently.

I declare that my family shall have hope. My ministry shall have hope. My work and business shall have hope. My studies shall have hope. Every dream and legitimate aspiration that aligns with God's purpose shall receive fresh strength and divine direction.

I proclaim that every season of uncertainty shall give way to clarity. Every closed door that God does not want for me shall remain closed, while every door appointed by His perfect will shall open at the right time.

Today, I receive the courage to plan, build, work, pray, and pursue God's purpose with confidence. I shall not abandon my assignment because of temporary difficulties. I know that God is able to establish the work of my hands.

I declare that the Lord shall protect me from evil and surround me with His favor. I shall dwell in safety under His mighty hand. My going out and coming in shall be preserved, and His peace shall guard my heart and mind.

I proclaim that my tomorrow shall not be worse than today. By God's grace, I am moving forward into greater spiritual maturity, greater wisdom, greater fruitfulness, and greater opportunities to serve Him.

I declare that hope shall rise again in every area of my life. Where I have experienced disappointment, God shall give me renewed expectation. Where I have experienced delay, He shall teach me to trust His timing. Where I have experienced weakness, He shall renew my strength.

I have hope.
I have confidence.
I have a future.
I have a faithful God.
Therefore, I shall rest securely in Him.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!

*Action Steps for today:*
Begin your day by thanking God because your future is in His hands.

Read Job 11:13–20 and meditate on the connection between faith, hope, confidence, and security.

Declare: “I shall have confidence because there is hope. My future is secure in God's hands.”

Identify one area where fear has been controlling you and consciously surrender it to God in prayer.

Encourage someone who is discouraged today by reminding them that there is still hope in God.

Make one positive, faith-filled step toward a God-honoring goal you have been postponing.

End the day with thanksgiving, trusting God with everything concerning your future.

*Prayer:*
Heavenly Father,
Thank You because my future is in Your hands. Thank You for giving me hope even when circumstances appear uncertain.

Remove every fear, anxiety, discouragement, and hopelessness from my heart. Give me confidence to face today and courage to look forward to tomorrow.

Secure my family, ministry, work, business, studies, and every area of my life. Guide my decisions and order my steps according to Your perfect will.

Where I have experienced disappointment, restore my hope. Where I have experienced delay, give me patience. Where I have experienced failure, give me courage to rise again.

Help me to trust You completely and to remember that my life is not without purpose. Establish the work of my hands and lead me into the future You have prepared for me.

Because there is hope, I will not fear.
Because You are with me, I will not be shaken.
Because You are faithful, I will move forward with confidence.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*Blessing for today:*
May the Lord fill your heart with renewed hope and confidence today. May every fear concerning your future disappear, and may divine peace take its place.

May God secure your household, establish your plans according to His will, protect your going out and coming in, and give you courage to pursue your God-given purpose.

May every season of uncertainty become an opportunity to experience God's faithfulness. May hope rise again in every area of your life, and may your future be brighter by His grace.

There is hope for you. There is a future before you. God is not finished with you!

Have confidence.
Rest in God's promises.
Keep moving forward.
Your hope is in the Lord.

Good morning beloved and do have a blessed, peaceful, and hope-filled day
Shalom!

*Remember: Your confession is your possession.*

* Postulant C. O. Oyadosu.*

_Please share with others, thank you and God bless you _

For counseling, prayers and partnership or you want to share your testimonies with us; please call or Whatsapp: +2348063128703
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“A Christ-Centered Life Is a Truly Successful Life.”

Generally, the world defines success by good education, a high-paying job, financial progress, a beautiful family, social recognition, the position we attain, and many other achievements. These things are certainly important in life. But even if we have all these things and lose Christ, that life cannot be considered truly successful.

True success is not measured by how high we have risen, but by how closely we have walked with Christ at that height. The world asks, “What have you achieved?” But God asks, “Have you followed Me?”

A Christ-centered life means giving Christ the first place in everything—our dreams, decisions, relationships, work, and future. He should not merely be a part of our life; He should be the center of our life.

The world measures success by achievements, but God looks at our faithfulness and obedience. Positions may change, wealth may decrease, and circumstances may shift; but when Christ is at the center, the foundation of our lives will never be shaken.

Rather than living a great life in the eyes of the world, living a meaningful life in the eyes of God is true success.

Hepsi Sam

SHAKEN, BUT NOT STIRRED BECAUSE OF MY FAITH!
Key Scripture:
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…” — 1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)

Thought for the Day...
There are moments in life when your faith will not prevent the shaking—it will keep the shaking from destroying you.
Sometimes we mistakenly believe that strong faith means we will never experience fear, disappointment, uncertainty, pressure, betrayal, loss, or unexpected trouble. But the Bible never promises that believers will live unshaken lives. Instead, Scripture teaches us how to remain unmoved while everything around us is shaking.
You may be shaken by what happened, but you don't have to be stirred away from what you believe.
You can say:
“I felt it, but I didn't fold.”
“I cried, but I didn't quit.”
“I was disappointed, but I didn't stop trusting God.”
“The storm shook my surroundings, but it couldn't shake my foundation.”
Why?
BECAUSE OF MY FAITH!

FAITH DOESN'T ALWAYS STOP THE SHAKING—SOMETIMES IT HOLDS YOU THROUGH IT
Jesus told Peter:
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not…” — Luke 22:31–32 (KJV)
Notice that Jesus didn't tell Peter, “You won't be sifted.”
He said, essentially, “When you're sifted, I'm praying that your faith survives.”
That's powerful!
Sometimes God doesn't immediately remove the situation. Instead, He strengthens you in the situation.
The enemy wants the shaking to become a breaking.
But God says:
“You may shake, but you will not shatter.”
Your emotions may shake.
Your finances may shake.
Your relationships may shake.
Your plans may shake.
Your confidence may shake.
But when your faith is anchored in Jesus Christ, your foundation remains secure.

THE STORM CAN SHAKE THE HOUSE, BUT IT CANNOT MOVE THE FOUNDATION
Jesus said:
“…a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not…” — Matthew 7:24–25 (KJV)
Notice something important.
The house built on the rock still experienced the storm.
The rain still fell.
The floods still came.
The winds still blew.
And the storm still beat upon the house.
The difference wasn't the absence of a storm.
The difference was the foundation.
Somebody looking at your life may wonder:
"How are you still standing after everything you've been through?"

The answer is simple:
MY FOUNDATION IS JESUS!
I've been shaken—but my foundation hasn't moved.
I've been wounded—but my foundation hasn't moved.
I've been disappointed—but my foundation hasn't moved.
I've had nights when I didn't understand what God was doing—but my foundation hasn't moved!

WHAT SHAKES YOU REVEALS WHAT'S HOLDING YOU!
Hebrews declares:
“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace…” — Hebrews 12:28 (KJV)
Sometimes shaking reveals what we have unknowingly depended upon.
We trusted the job—until the job changed.
We trusted people—until people disappointed us.
We trusted our plans—until life interrupted them.
We trusted our own strength—until we discovered we weren't strong enough.
Then the shaking reminded us:
God was supposed to be our foundation all along.
When temporary things start moving, faith grabs hold of the One who never changes.
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” — Hebrews 13:8 (KJV)
Everything around you can change while the God underneath you remains the same.

FAITH SAYS, “EVEN IF GOD DOESN'T CHANGE IT YET, I STILL TRUST HIM!”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced a fiery furnace because they refused to bow.
Their response was remarkable:
“Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us…” — Daniel 3:17 (KJV)
But then they said:
“But if not… we will not serve thy gods…” — Daniel 3:18 (KJV)

That's shaken-but-not-stirred faith!
They knew God could deliver them, but their faith wasn't dependent upon God doing exactly what they wanted.
“God can—but even if He doesn't, He's still God.”
That's mature faith.
If He heals me—I trust Him.
If I'm still waiting—I trust Him.
If the door opens—I trust Him.
If the door stays closed—I trust Him.
If I understand—I trust Him.
If I don't understand—I STILL TRUST HIM!
My circumstances don't determine God's character.
God is faithful even when life doesn't make sense.

YOU MAY BEND UNDER PRESSURE WITHOUT BREAKING
Paul described the Christian journey this way:
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” — 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 (KJV)

Look at those contrasts:
Troubled—but not distressed.
Perplexed—but not hopeless.
Persecuted—but not abandoned.
Knocked down—but not destroyed.

In other words:
SHAKEN—BUT STILL STANDING!
Faith doesn't mean you never have difficult moments.
Faith means difficult moments don't get the final word.

WHEN THE SHAKING STOPS
One day you'll look back and realize:
What you thought was going to destroy you actually developed you.
The shaking taught you how to pray.
The shaking taught you how to trust.
The shaking taught you who was really for you.
The shaking exposed what wasn't stable.
The shaking drove you deeper into God's Word.
And the shaking taught you something about yourself:
“I didn't know my faith was this strong until life gave me something heavy enough to test it.”
James 1:3 declares:
“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”
Your faith isn't merely being tested.
Your faith is being strengthened.

Prayer...
Heavenly Father, thank You for being my Rock when everything around me feels unstable. When life shakes me, strengthen my faith. When fear tries to enter my heart, remind me of Your promises. When I don't understand what You're doing, help me trust who You are.
Lord, let every storm drive me closer to You. Give me faith that refuses to quit, worship that refuses to stop, and confidence that declares, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15).
I declare that trouble will not destroy me, disappointment will not define me, and fear will not control me. My life is built upon Jesus Christ, the Solid Rock.
I may be shaken, but I will not be stirred away from my faith.
In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen!

DECLARATION...
I may be shaken, but I will not be stirred away from my faith!
I will not allow fear to replace my faith.
I will not allow disappointment to replace my worship.
I will not allow delay to make me doubt God's promises.
I will not allow what I see to make me forget what God said.
My faith is anchored.
My hope is secure.
My foundation is Jesus Christ.
The winds may blow.
The rain may fall.
The ground around me may shake.
BUT I WILL STILL BE STANDING!
Because I've discovered something about God:
HE IS FAITHFUL IN THE FIRE.
HE IS FAITHFUL IN THE STORM.
HE IS FAITHFUL IN THE WAITING.
HE IS FAITHFUL IN THE SHAKING.
I'M SHAKEN, BUT I'M NOT STIRRED—BECAUSE OF MY FAITH!

August 12, 2026 (day 224/365)
WEDNESDAY

GOD'S WORD FOR THE DAY

“The Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken”

Revelation 11:15

“The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

This is the Word of God. Revelation 11 reminds us that earthly kingdoms and human powers are temporary, but God's kingdom is eternal. No matter how uncertain the world becomes, Christ remains King and His reign will never end.

When circumstances shake our confidence, we can look beyond the present and remember who ultimately rules. Our hope rests not in earthly powers but in the eternal reign of Jesus Christ.

May we live with confidence and hope, knowing that Christ is King and His kingdom will reign forever. Amen.

Have a blessed day with the Lord.

-- Pastor Emmanuel Serto

Acts 16:

"1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;
12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
39 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed."

Although the revivals in Toronto and Pensacola cooled off decades ago, heresy hunters still find fault with these moves of God. One cessationist recently wrote a post labeling the Brownsville Revival “God’s Fire Mixed With Strange Fire.” How would he know the difference if the gifts of the Spirit supposedly ended when the original apostles died? Critics make too much of a fuss over manifestations. They should examine the results of someone who might have fallen to the floor and shaken uncontrollably. Many have testified of loving Jesus more. Jesus said in Matthew 7:20 (NLT), “Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”

THE FOUNDATION IN THE WORD

“Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.” —Matthew 24:35

One reason believers may start to feel shaky in their relationship with God is that they haven’t built a solid foundation for their lives. So, when circumstances threaten their well-being, they don’t always know where to turn. And that leaves them feeling distant from the Lord.

Where will you turn in a time of crisis? When tragedy hits? When disaster strikes? Will it be your favorite website? The morning newspaper? The evening news? You’ll need something to give you strength and direction in your time of despair. Here’s a tip: You won’t find a better resource than the Word of God.

As one pastor said, “One gem from that ocean is worth all the pebbles of earthly streams.” Just a single gem from the ocean of God’s Word can make all the difference when tragedy or hardship strikes. How many people in their affliction have found comfort from Scripture?

Trusting in what God has said in His Word can sustain us and give us direction, hope, and comfort when we need them most. Inspirational platitudes or clever sayings won’t help—at least, not for very long—but the Word of God always will. It’s been said that those who reject the Bible have nothing to live by. Neither do they have anything to die by.

Ideas and philosophies go in and out of style with the passing of years, but the Word of God never goes out of style. It never goes out of date, unlike this morning’s news. The Word of God will always be relevant.

That’s why C. S. Lewis said, “All that is not eternal is eternally out of date.” And it’s why Jesus Himself said, “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear” (Matthew 24:35 NLT).

Jesus emphasized the importance of having a solid foundation grounded in God’s truth in His parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7:24–27. The wise man built his house on the rock. When the rains came, when the storms of life threatened his well-being, it did not fall. The structure may have been shaken to its core, but it withstood everything that was thrown at it. Because it had a strong foundation.

The foolish man, on the other hand, built his house on sand. He didn’t prioritize a strong foundation. When the rains came, his house collapsed with a great crash.

I urge you to get a good foundation in God’s Word because it’s only a matter of time until the storms of life rain down on you and hardship strikes. It happens in every life, without exception. But if you have a good foundation in the Word of God, then you’ll be ready for difficulty when it comes. Don’t wait until then to try to catch up.

Get that foundation now.

God bless you!