Read Matthew 7:24-27 NIV in your Bible

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."

Jesus is saying that good times and bad times happen to everyone. He wants us to be prepared for the bad times in life. He describes building a house on two different types of foundation: one of rock and the other of sand. This is a comparison of how we should and should not live our lives. He is creating an image in our minds, so we can better understand his point. It’s better to have a life built on a “rock foundation” because its more sturdy and solid just like the Word of God. To do that, we simply have to listen to what the Bible says, believe it and put it into practice in how we live and treat others.

There used to be a saying “you can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?” Often, we are different people in church than we are outside the doors of the church. Jesus is challenging us to listen to Him and put into practice what we read in the Bible. As an athlete practices for the big game, and a musician practices for the big concert so we must practice what we learn from the Bible in our lives. Even when bad things happen to us, we have the rock of God’s Word to anchor us through the storm.

1. I can memorize scripture, so I know what it says and can practice it.
2. I can ask a friend who goes to church with me to help remind me to practice what we have learned at church.
3. When I have a horrible day, I can stop, take a deep breath and pray. I can ask God to help me. He listens and He cares.