Recently our team Bible study has been focusing on where our foundation lies — both as individuals and as a team. You see, whatever you establish as the foundation for your life will affect your career, your relationships, your character and your future. It’s the most important thing in life, your starting point for everything else. You don’t want to mess it up because once your foundation is laid, everything that follows will be directly built upon that.
Have you taken the time to make sure you have the correct foundation set in place before you begin to build? Because once you start building, there’s no going back unless you rip everything down and start back at ground zero.
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33
Jesus tells us the storms of life are going to come. It’s not a question; we’re all going to experience difficulties in our lives. What are we doing to prepare ourselves? Anyone who builds a house first establishes a foundation on which to build. Before he sees any signs of destruction or disastrous situations, he takes into account what could be and then builds accordingly. In the same way, we need to prepare ourselves in every aspect of life — physically, spiritually, mentally, relationally — before we see any signs of destruction approaching.
Every athlete must know who he is as a person and a player in order to be successful. He needs to know his strengths, limitations and vulnerabilities. He needs to be aware of the techniques needed for his specific position so he can perfect them. Then when he competes and experiences both wins and losses, he will be able to withstand.
The same is true for a team as a whole. If the players know who they are as a team, what their goal is, what their weaknesses are, and what they need to do to get to where they’re headed, the foundation will be set. With everyone on board and building upon the same firm foundation, they’ll be able to remain on their feet no matter how intense the competition may be.
What you’ve placed your identity in will determine if you’ll have the confidence to press on in the midst of difficult circumstances. When you place your identity in Christ alone, you gain a new perspective, an unshakable outlook. There is no fear or panic in Christ. When you know your foundation lies in the strength and power of the Messiah, you won’t have to worry about what may or may not come. This then becomes your foundation for everything else — relationships, careers, family, etc.
But how do we firmly establish our foundation with that unshakable confidence? The highest source of inspiration we can find is the Word of God. When we understand His playbook for our lives, we’ll know He goes before us and will equip us with everything we need. He’s given us a tangible source of instruction in this life to guide us along His path, but He’s also given us the indwelling of His Holy Spirit to speak to us. Through prayer, submission, and a heart devoted to listening to God’s voice, we will grow in our intimate fellowship with God. He’s also blessed us with the fellowship of other believers, people who can speak truth into our lives and point us closer to Christ.
These are the things on which we need to build our lives. These truths are eternal and unshakable — firm enough to withstand whatever storms may come. What foundation are you building upon?
– Chris Maragos
Chris Maragos is a safety and special teams ace with the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a regular contributor to The Increase, providing monthly articles and opinions.
