You may construct your house, but only God can build your home. Building a strong foundation in Christ at home requires allowing God to be the designer and constructor of your home, family, and marriage.
Building a home that lasts is about building…
- On the right location
- On the right foundation
Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”
The Son of God is your location, and the Word of God is your foundation. The location and the foundation of the home are what will determine its longevity. It is the difference between building a home that lasts and one that doesn’t.
The Wise Builder and the Foolish Builder
The parable of the wise and foolish builders is about two builders who built houses. One built his house on a rock, so it lasted forever. He was wise. The other built his house on the sand, which fell when the rain came. He was foolish.
- “‘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.’”—Matthew 7:24-27
When the rain came down and the streams rose, both men went on building. But the foolish builder’s foundation was not strong enough to stand up to the floodwaters. So what happened? The house, and everything else, fell down because there was no firm foundation.
Jesus’ point was that people must build their lives on God’s Word rather than human wisdom or experience. Jesus—the Rock—and His Kingdom will last forever. Everything else will eventually fall. Building a strong foundation in Christ in your home ensures you create something that lasts for eternity.
- “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”—Psalm 18:2
A wise builder builds his home on a firm foundation, a rock. A foolish builder builds his home on a weak foundation, sand. If you are building a strong foundation in Christ…
- You are wise
- You have the right location
- Your home will be a place of protection
In our teaching resource Castles | Building Families That Last, you can discover how building a strong foundation in Christ creates protection and provision for your family.
A Castle’s Purpose
The main purpose of a castle is to protect the people inside. Castles are designed to sit high, have a tall lookout tower, and store powerful weapons. They are also a status symbol to show others that those who reside within the walls are important.
This is a picture of what God wants to do in your family. He wants to position you in a high place as you place Him on the throne in your home. He will be the watchman of your walls, looking out for danger. He wants you to wield the powerful weapons He mentioned in His Word when attacks come.
We must decide which castle we will build for our families—one built high, on the Rock of our salvation, or one of sand that won’t last.
Prayers for Building a Strong Foundation for Your Home
Making a Decision About the Builder
When you go to build a home, what is the first and most important decision you must make? It is to determine who will be your builder. Building a strong foundation in Christ at home requires deciding that God will be your builder. All things must be surrendered to and built for His glory; only then will your family be able to withstand the storms life brings.
Prayer | Ask Jesus to Be Your Builder
“Lord Jesus, I know you are the Rock of my salvation. Your Word says that when we choose to be wise builders, we allow you to work and create peace in our families. Lord, I surrender my family to you. I ask you to take the rightful place in our home. May your name be lifted high, and may everything we do point each other and others to you. Lord, we ask you to come in and build our home on your love, grace, mercy, and instruction. Guide my family with your eye and direct our paths, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Making a Decision About Who Guards Your Home
Proverbs 4:23 tells us to guard our hearts above all else. Our hearts are the source of all we do, think, and speak. If we want to protect our families and homes, we must ask God to protect our hearts. Philippians 4:7 tells us to lift all things up in prayer, be thankful, and make our requests known to God. It is then that His peace will guard our hearts beyond understanding. Decide to let Jesus be your strong tower (Proverbs 18:10). Ask Him to guard your home.
Prayer | Ask Jesus to Guard Your Home
“Lord Jesus, your Word says that you are a strong tower. This is one of your names! You never forsake those who seek you, and I seek you now for the protection of my family. Your name describes your power to safeguard those who call upon your name. Your compassion, kindness, mercy, power, holiness, and perfection guard our home. As a family, we are actively building a strong foundation in Christ. We trust you as our refuge and strength, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
In Summary
Building a home that lasts is about the right location and the right foundation. The Son of God is the right location, and the Word of God is the right foundation. Building a strong foundation in Christ is described in the parable of the wise and foolish builders. When floodwaters rose, they kept on building. The difference was that one home lasted; it was built on a rock. The other one didn’t last, as it was built on sand. We must build our homes on the Rock—Jesus. If not, the storms of life will take it all out.
- Decide today that Jesus will be your builder.
- Decide today that Jesus will guard your home.
Put your trust in Him, and He will be your refuge and strong tower. Need help? Check out this free resource, a video series designed to help parents build families that last.
Prayer | Putting Your Trust in Jesus and Thanking Him for Your Home
“Lord Jesus, I thank you for my family. We welcome your presence into our home. I ask that you invade every corner, every room, and every heart in our home. I pray that we yield to your Spirit as we interact with each other, trusting that you are in control and guiding us. Bless my spouse and my children, even our extended family, and let us—through the power of your Spirit—be a light to those in our family who do not know you. May others feel your peace and rest as they walk through our doors. Lord, thank you for always being with us. Let us draw nearer to you every day, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
