I want to take a moment to lift up anyone in a season of building.

Proverbs 14:1 says The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

A.R. Bernard teaches that everything starts in seed form and grows into an experience. We are made in God’s image and likeness. So Elohim, our omniscient, generous, Creator, gives us the capacity to create, the urge to give, and enough understanding to build. Wisdom will lead us to build something that can shelter, revive and restore us.

Our homes, at their best, are our sanctuaries. In an uncontrollable world, we can control the environment within them.

We are, however, equally capable of destroying our places of peace. We can waste our resources. We can transmit our pain. We can neglect or abuse people who depend on us. We can allow unsafe people to become a part of their lives. Our toxic behavior may not be our fault. We may be sharing the trauma we received. Still, it is our responsibility. The buck must stop with us.

Solomon, who, with his 700 wives and 300 concubines, knew a thing or two about living with women, said in Proverbs 21:9 that “it is better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.” As a man with my own share of moods, I cannot ever say the problem is my wife. We all need to be accountable. We’ve probably, however, all shared space with someone whose demeanor made us consider sleeping outside.

Another problem we have in building is that we try to do everything in our own strength, but we are not strong. Psalm 127💯1 says unless the Lord builds a house, the builders labor in vain. But we often do this.

1. We decide to build something, without asking God if our goal is appropriate. We have a desire, and that’s all we need. We have an idea and assume we know best. We don’t pause to consult God at all.
2. God tells us to build but we are confident we know the process. We decide where to build, when to start, and who to call. God gives us a vision and we say “we’ll take it from here.”
3. God gives us a blueprint. We start faithfully. In the middle, however, we hit bumps. And at this point, we don’t stop to ask God what to do next. We may be embarrassed we are struggling at all. We concern ourselves with the optics instead of the plan.
4. The second half of the verse, however, gives us additional context “Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.” What does this tell us? God gives us work to do, but it is always under his care. We join in His work, and without His help, we will fail.

Let’s pray: Father, you are great and greatly to be praised.

You are the God who shelters us from the storms.

You are the God who invites us to the secret place that we might rest under your shadow.

Thank you, today, for allowing us to build.

Our homes and families, our work and businesses, our inventions and legacy all reflect your hand upon and Spirit within us. You solve problems we didn’t know we had and bestow blessings we didn’t imagine we could obtain.

We ask that you inspire, correct, and strengthen us, both for this season of building, and the seasons to come.

We are your subcontractors. You have raised us up to perform a particular work in your construction project. We have a right to ask how you want us to do it.

We are your staff. You have hired us to serve a particular function. We have a right to ask you to supply the tools to complete it.

We are your students. You have trained and prepared us for this season. We have a right to ask you how to apply the lessons we’ve learned.

But most importantly, we are your sons and daughters. We can expect the inheritance that comes from being heirs of a promise. We have a right to enter your presence. We have a right to jump in your lap. We have a right to expect your embrace.

Sharpen our ears to hear clearly from You.

Sharpen our discernment to understand Your instructions.

Order our steps to run in the direction You are leading us.

I pray, in Jesus’s name, amen.

(Photo Credit: Pixabay)