Blessing Comes From Doing

by Rick Warren — November 7, 2022
From Building a Better Life

“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

John 13:17 (NIV)

The uncontrollable winds of life—relational winds, financial winds, and spiritual winds—can overwhelm you and throw you off course. But God’s Word is filled with principles to help you withstand even the toughest winds.

Yesterday we looked at the importance of staying connected to your church family. Today we’ll look at another antidote for destructive winds: Put into practice everything you learn.

God doesn’t just want you just to hear his Word. He wants you to do it—to obey it, to practice it.

The Bible says, “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” (Matthew 7:24-25 NIV).

Notice the three things that happen in a storm. The rain comes down, attacking the roof of your life. The streams rise, flooding the foundation of your life. And the winds blow, beating against the walls of your life. You’re getting it from the top, the bottom, and the side. And you have no control over any of it.

What do you do with the uncontrollable things of life—that diagnosis you can’t control, a child you can’t control, or financial hardship you can’t control? You put into practice everything you have learned in Scripture. And when you do, you won’t fall down because the foundation of your house is built on the rock.

What’s the rock? The rock is the Word of God. And the more you build your life on it, the more solid you’re going to be. The wind can come and cause enormous problems, but it won’t devastate your life when you’re doing what God says.

John 13:17 says, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (NIV).

That verse doesn’t say you’ll be blessed if you know these things. It says you’ll be blessed if you do them.

Maybe you’re coming out of a stormy season right now—or maybe you’re about to go through one. I can’t stress it enough: Build your life on the unshakeable Word of God. It’s the only foundation you can trust.

Talk It Over

  • When you build “your house” on the foundation of God’s Word, what keeps it from falling?
  • In what areas do you struggle to obey God’s Word? Whether it’s showing kindness at home or being patient at work, how would this week look different if you acted on what God calls you to do?
  • Who in your life is a good example of someone who consistently obeys God’s Word—not just knows God’s Word?

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.