On New Year’s Eve 2018, Matthew 7:25 was awakened within me and the heart of Fully Known Ministries (FKM) started beating. It is the foundation on which FKM is built, and the root of everything I will ever teach. It reads:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Why didn’t the house fall? How could it withstand the rain, the floods, and the wind? Because it was founded on something sure, strong, and unmovable…a rock. When you are founded on a rock, you stop floundering through life. You stop living on the roller coaster of emotions — one day up and one day down. You become Even Steven. You stop being tossed about like a wave of the sea by every breeze that blows — like when you get a negative doctor’s report, a relationship ends, or your kids are acting stupid. Nothing moves you. Nothing shakes you.
So I asked myself, How does a person get off that roller coaster ride and get to the point where the trials of life don’t move them anymore? That no matter what happens, they are steadfast and solid? The answer lies in that one word: rock.
Now, I always interpreted this word “rock” to mean that the house was founded upon Jesus, right? It was founded on the Word, right? While that is absolute truth in itself, there is another meaning, a very important meaning, that sheds light on the answer to our roller coaster question. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines this word “rock” as the Greek word petra. It metaphorically means “a man like a rock, by firmness and strength of soul.”
The house in Matthew 7:25 didn’t fall because of its foundation on a rock. You, your life, your body, is the house in this metaphor. In real life, houses get rained on, they get threatened by floods, and the winds surely beat on them. But take heart. From the definition of rock (petra) in this verse, you learn that you will not fall, you will not be moved in the face of any storm when you have tenacity and resolve in your soul. Your soul is your mind, your will, and your emotions. If you don’t have strength in your soul, make sure your seatbelt is tight and that you keep your arms inside the ride at all times because you’re in for a bumpy ride.
So how do you get off that roller coaster and, more importantly, stay off that roller coaster? By becoming a living definition of this word “rock” and developing firmness and strength in your soul. You’re thinking, That’s great! But how in the world do I do that?!? The “how” is easy, but the “want to” is sometimes hard.
Sometimes the things we want most in life are the hardest to get because they require the most out of us.
Developing strength in your soul is as easy as renewing your mind with God’s Word (Ro 12:2). You renew your mind by getting to know His Word – by always keeping His Word in the forefront of your mind – by spending time in prayer. It means putting what he says above what everybody and everything else says. When that doctor’s report comes in and it is not the news you were hoping for, it means saying, “All right. I see these results, BUT GOD says in 1 Peter 2:24 that I am already healed.” When someone tells you that you aren’t good enough and that you’ll never amount to anything, it means saying, “No! I don’t believe that because Jeremiah 29:11 tells me that He has plans for me. He’s given me hope and a future.” When the storm comes, you speak the Word to it. Easy.
Now, this is where the hard part comes in. You have to actually do that…consistently. You can’t let your thoughts and emotions just run willy-nilly. It’s time to rein them in. It’s time to take charge. You choose what you think about. You choose what occupies space in your mind. If you will do this, if you will keep His Word in your mind and on your tongue, you will become firm and strong in your soul. You will not be moved. Isaiah 26:3 (NIV):
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
A steadfast mind — in other words, one that is firm and strong and focused on the Lord – will bring you perfect peace. Perfect peace sounds like the exact opposite of a roller coaster ride to me. Trust in Him. Think on His Word. And get off the roller coaster.