This week marks the beginning of the Australian Open, the first of four grand slam tennis tournaments that take place throughout the year. Time for me to not get anything done for the next two weeks!

The tournament takes place in the middle of Australia’s summer, which means players can look forward to scorching temperatures and high humidity. Already this year, on the very first day, one of the ball girls collapsed from heat stroke. Players know they better come prepared. One way they do this is by training in heat chambers, rooms that can mimic the conditions in Australia, where their bodies can acclimate to exercising for long periods of time in extreme heat. Nothing about this sounds fun, but it’s all worth it when players step on the court and their bodies have the foundation they need to withstand a long, brutally hot match.

What’s even more important than tennis match preparation is being prepared in life. The foundation we set for ourselves is crucial! Matthew 7:24-25 says, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”

These words are spoken by Jesus at the end of his famous Sermon on the Mount. He has just turned the religious thinking of the day upside down. Rather than just appearing holy and righteous on the outside, Jesus emphasizes the importance of sincerely seeking God with our hearts. Hearing His words and then doing them – this is where a foundation is built. 

There so many other things fighting for our time and our devotion, things that are easy and entertaining. But those things are shifting sand. Every single minute we spend with God in prayer and in His Word and in worship of Him help us set a strong foundation. Then when troubles of life bring fear and doubt and sorrow, we will have established a relationship with our Creator that nothing can shake. We will be held firm by the Rock.

God, You are my firm foundation. I want to build my life on You and Your commands, which are strong and true and certain. Continue to build my trust in You.