April 22. Great Stones or Bad Bricks? Choices!

We make many choices daily in our finances, in our faith, in our relationships, and in our businesses. We also live with the results of the choices that we have made from the past. While the effects of the past choices still are with us, we will have more choices to face tomorrow.

They just keep coming at us. It is like the choices build up a foundation for us. Each decision is like stone after stone being added to the foundation. When we make a decision which turns out to be a bad one, we need to address how it will affect the foundation.

Do you leave the stone in the foundation as it is? Or maybe we need to give it some extra attention to make sure that we strengthen its part in the structure. We might add some mortar around it or change the stones that might sit atop of it on the foundation so that the foundation maintains its overall stability.

Sometimes we need to remove the decision entirely and work on that part to get it back to structural security again. As an entrepreneur or leader, where do you have any stones that need removed in your foundation? It is best to address them sooner rather than later.

The longer you wait the more the foundation and the stones build upon it are going to settle. But the foundation will not be secure. The stability of the foundation is likely to falter under times of stress which could jeopardize the entire organization. In the next seven days, what is the first thing you can do to remove a stone and replace it with a secure decision?

As brothers and sisters following Christ, we make foundational decisions as well. We effect our relationship with Christ, our families, our churches like stone after stone being added. The good news is that when we add a bad stone here, that Christ has died on the cross for that stone.

We are forgiven, that is, if the cornerstone has been laid in our own lives. Jesus is willing to help personally repair us as we repair or replace stones in our foundation. In the Old Testament, Joshua closes his chapter of life by reminding the people of the stones laid by the decisions of God which have influenced their lives.

He challenged the people to remember the foundation laid and stated boldly that, "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." That statement is a call and question to us today as well. As we make decisions today, how will they serve Jesus and how will they build a strong foundation.

What decision can you make today that will impact your foundation? Do you need to go into your foundation and address some stones? It is not too late to repair or replace. Do not wait as the foundation needs to be solid moving into the future.

Where might you be able to come alongside someone that is asking for help with their foundation? Where are you making decisions in the next seven days that are foundational in nature? Are we asking Jesus if they are adding stability to the foundation that is in place?

Let us pray, Jesus, thank you for the cross. You are the cornerstone of my life and my foundation. Assist me in placing the stones of my foundation in alignment with you. I want to choose my stones wisely to withstand the times of uncertainty of this world. Let the winds of time blow.

Let the rain pound against it. Let the earth shake. Let others attack my foundation but we can withstand it all because of you. On solid rock, we stand. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen,