Welcome to this week’s ePray devotional. Our theme this month is wisdom. We will begin together with a breath prayer, preparing our heart to hear and asking God to speak. Our inhale will be “Teacher” and our exhale will be “Let me hear”. We will do it together for a few breaths and then you can continue a few on your own.

Teacher, let me hear.

Teacher, let me hear.

Teacher, let me hear.

Today, we’ll be reading from Matthew chapter 7, verses 24-27. As I read the Scripture, continue to turn your thoughts quietly toward the Lord, asking him to open your heart and ears to his voice and word.

“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.”

What parts of your life feel built on the rock?

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What parts of your life feel as if they may be built on the sand?

Pause

Have you been surprised by the rain – or maybe even feeling angry or frustrated or tricked by a current rainstorm? What does it mean to you today to be reminded that in both cases, the rainstorm came – and that the difference was not the rain but the foundation of the house?

As we reread this passage, can you think of a person in your life who needs to hear this word? Maybe someone who especially needs God’s love and compassion right now?

“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.”

What does it mean to help others build a strong foundation for their own house?

Pause

What might it mean to be able to shelter others in the house that you’ve built?

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What action might this reflection invite you into today?

Pause

“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.”