Former Blackout Artist

Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless
the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.
– Psalm 127:1

I’ve always loved building things. One of my fondest memories takes me back to my senior year of high school, where I was in vocational school (carpentry) and we were building a residential home. I was so excited to finally get to build something other than a flimsy picnic table or a cheap festival booth that would be disassembled and thrown into the trash heap the following week. We were building something permanent, something that would last! Something beautiful. That was 40 years ago, and that home is still standing today. Every time I go back home to visit, I drive by that house and smile, knowing that I helped build it.

We’re all building something, aren’t we? Some of us are building families. Others of us are building careers, ministries, friendships, and businesses. But we’re all building futures. We dream, and then we pour our energy into plans and responsibilities, hoping our labor will amount to something meaningful, something that lasts.

But Psalm 127:1 reminds us that no matter how skilled, how determined, or how hardworking we might be, our life cannot truly succeed apart from the Lord.

God never intended to be confined to a Sunday routine or a brief devotional moment.

He desires involvement in every corner of our lives! He wants to guide our marriages and shape our parenting of our children. He wants to direct our vocations, govern our finances, influence our friendships, and even lead us in our rest, health, and recreation. There is no “ordinary” part of life where we no longer need His wisdom. There is nothing “off limits” to God.

But that doesn’t mean we don’t try to keep Him out of certain things. I’ve learned the hard way about what happens when I say, “I’ve got this” and decide to go it alone.

Jesus echoed this truth in The Gospel of Matthew 7:26–27 when He described the foolish man who built his house on sand. The man worked hard, but he ignored the Lord’s wisdom. In the end, the storm exposed the weakness of a life built without God at the center. Effort alone is never enough. A strong foundation matters more than impressive construction!

If we desire success in our honest endeavors, we must first seek the Lord’s direction and blessing. God already has a purpose and plan for our lives, but we are responsible to walk in obedience and cooperate with Him daily. When the Lord is truly building the house, the work is no longer empty – it becomes eternal. Success is guaranteed!

Today, invite God into every area of your life. Seek His wisdom through His holy Word, and talk with Him each day. Don’t just ask Him to bless your plans – ask Him to lead them.

What He builds will stand!