Life throws punches. Hiding won't help. Jesus, in Matthew 7, compares life to building a house: on rock (His teachings practiced) or sand (hearing only). Storms test our foundation.
"Hear and do" is key. Many hear, few practice. Like athletes training, we must practice faith. Love your enemy? Don't judge? Live it. Practice prepares us for storms, not avoids them.
Hardship tests faith. Without practice, we falter. Following Jesus is challenging, but His yoke is easy with practiced faith.
We build on the rock through prayer, Scripture, service, community, and fasting. These aren't to earn salvation, but to prepare for life's inevitable storms: heartache, pain, a broken world.
Are we prepared? Practice, not just hearing, builds a strong foundation. We'll explore these practices in the coming weeks.
