Living On Purpose In Christ | Boundaries, Devotions, Positive Affirmations, Bible Study, Christian, Faith, Scripture

69 | Solid Ground: Why Your Spiritual Foundation Actually Matters

• Paula Behrens | Christian Coach, Pastor, Certified Aroma Freedom Practitioner • Season 2

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Have you ever looked at your faith and wondered if it's just something you claim to have, or if it's truly the foundation you're standing on? When life's storms hit—illness, loss, disappointment—do you find yourself scrambling for stability or standing firm in peace?

The difference between a Christian life that thrives and one that merely survives lies in the strength of its foundation. Far too many of us build our spiritual lives on the shifting sands of convenience, culture, or fleeting emotions. We postpone commitment until "life slows down" or abandon spiritual practices when we don't "feel" God's presence. Yet as Jesus taught in Matthew 7, both the wise and foolish builders faced storms—the only difference was what they built their houses upon. Building a life on the rock requires intentional commitment to three essential pillars uncovered in this episode.

Ready to move from merely hearing to actually doing? Join me in embracing a faith that doesn't just survive life's challenges but thrives through them. Schedule your personalized coaching session at paulabehrens.com/coaching and discover how to create a devotional routine that fits your busy life while deepening your connection with God. The foundation you build today determines the legacy you'll leave tomorrow.

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Reserve your transformative coaching hour today. Dive into the incredible benefits of essential oils while enhancing your spiritual journey. Through personalized, step-by-step guidance, you'll create a devotional routine that effortlessly fits into your lifestyle. Discover more at PaulaBehrens.com/coaching

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Paula Behrens:

Have you ever looked at your life and wondered is my faith just something I say I have? Or is it the very ground I'm walking on? When the storms of life start to rumble illness, loss, disappointment do you find yourself standing firm in peace or scrambling to hold everything together? Today, I want to take you deeper into the rock-solid truths of what it really means to live a life built on Christ not just occasionally influenced by Him, but built on Christ. Because, let me tell you, the difference between a Christian life that thrives and one that merely survives is the strength of its foundation.

Paula Behrens:

Before we get started, I'd like to give a shout out to Aubree, with Mom Intentional, she writes, "I am so excited that I found this gem. Paula gives such great ideas on how to connect with God intentionally and consistently. I am always trying to grow in my faith and know this podcast will forever be a valuable resource for me." Well, thank you so much, Aubree. If you'd like to leave a review, we'd truly appreciate it. On Apple Podcasts, simply scroll down to the five-star rating section and click on leave a review. If you're using a PC, open the iTunes app and you'll find the link near the top. Share your thoughts with us today and your review could be showcased on one of our upcoming episodes.

Paula Behrens:

Are you finding it challenging to maintain your spiritual practices or yearning for a more peaceful, God-aligned day? I'm Paula and I've been there too. Balancing spiritual habits with a busy life can be difficult. I longed for a deeper connection with God, but struggled with consistency. Then I found the perfect approach. If you seek simple ways to deepen your connection with God, this podcast is for you.

Paula Behrens:

When I first began my seminary work while serving two church congregations full-time, everyone assumed I had my daily devotional time perfectly organized. But, truth be told, there were mornings I could barely find five minutes to catch my breath, let alone dive into deep reflection. One day, as I rushed out the door with mismatched shoes, I realized that even in my chaos, there was a lesson. Embracing God's grace and self-forgiveness, I realized that true success in my devotional life requires prioritizing my spiritual practices.

Paula Behrens:

Hey sister, are the demands of daily life leaving you feeling overwhelmed, while your heart longs to find peace and purpose? Do you yearn for a deeper connection with God, but struggle to establish a devotional routine that truly inspires you? After retiring from years in the ministry, I sought to enrich my spiritual life, exploring various methods to reconnect with God in a profound way. It seemed elusive at first until I discovered something that really resonated with my soul. For over 18 months now, I've embraced a new approach that has transformed my spiritual journey. My connection to God is flourishing and my sense of peace has never been stronger. Each day offers fresh, new opportunities to connect with God in meaningful ways.

Paula Behrens:

Your days of feeling adrift or constantly searching for meaningful ways to connect with God can come to an end. Join me for an hour coaching session where you'll discover strategies that can profoundly impact your life. We'll delve into how essential oils can enhance your daily quiet time with the Lord, and you will be surprised at how simple it is to create a devotional routine customized to fit your schedule and your needs that will reignite the fire of the Holy Spirit within you. Visit paulabehrens. com/ coaching. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H-R-E-N-S .com/coaching. This could very well be the answer you've been praying for. I look forward to walking with you on this beautiful journey together. All right, it's time to get started. Grab your Bible, dust off your journal and cozy up to your favorite beverage and let's dive in.

Paula Behrens:

I remember the exact moment I realized God was calling me into the pastoral ministry. It wasn't flashy, there was no thunder from heaven or handwriting on the wall. It was a quiet afternoon. I was sitting in the game room of our 4,200 square foot home. The house was still, the kids were at school and husband at work, and I was feeling well, like something was missing. So I began praying for the first time in my life, as if there just might be someone out there listening. I began by saying God, and then I remembered a verse of scripture that I had learned as a child. It was the one where Jesus said, "come to me all who are weary, and I will give you rest." And I thought that's what's missing. That rest, that peace, that's what I need in my life. So I continued saying God, if I can have that rest, if I can have that peace that Jesus says I can have, I want to give my life to him. And at that moment my heart was changed. The way I saw God, the way I saw others and the world around me, the way I saw myself was completely different and I thought what was that? I didn't do that. I didn't change my heart like that, but it is definitely changed. Then I realized that something outside of myself changed my heart and at that moment, for the first time in my life, I believed that God existed.

Paula Behrens:

Not long after my heart-changing experience and reading through the Bible two and a half times in four months, I began to feel a call into the ministry to serve as a pastor in God's church. I didn't really feel ready, I didn't feel worthy, but God wasn't asking me to be either of those things. He was asking me to say yes, and that yes led me down a path I never anticipated - my undergrad work at a Christian university, then four years of seminary classes, lots of late night Bible study sessions, lots and lots of prayer, moments of deep doubt and even deeper surrender. And through it all, God was laying down the foundation of a life built not on what I could do, but on who he is. The funny thing is this, when you tell God you want to give your life to him, he doesn't mess around. He takes it seriously, making sure that your faith is built on the rock, that your faith is built on Jesus Christ.

Paula Behrens:

What does it mean to embrace faith? Well, embracing faith isn't a one-time decision, it's a lifestyle. It's not just the prayer you prayed years ago at a revival or the tearful moment at the altar. Those moments are beautiful and powerful, but they're not the end. They're the beginning. To embrace faith means to wrap your life around the truth of who God is. It means holding on to his promises even when your circumstances suggest otherwise. It means allowing his Word to be the lens through which you see your life, not just your Sunday mornings.

Paula Behrens:

Jesus talks about this in Matthew 7. He says the wise person is the one who not only hears his words but puts them into practice. That's the key difference. The foolish man or woman hears but doesn't do. The wise man or woman hears and obeys. The question we have to ask ourselves is, am I living like the wise person? Let's get real here.

Paula Behrens:

Too many of us are trying to build our lives on the sand of convenience, culture or feelings. We say things like, I'll get serious about God when life slows down or I just don't feel close to him right now. Listen, faith isn't built on feelings. It's built on truth. When Jesus talked about the house built on sand, he wasn't describing a reckless sinner who hated God. He was describing someone who heard the Word but didn't apply it. Now that's sobering. The storms of life come for all of us, both the wise and the foolish. The only difference is what we're standing on when they arrive. So what are you standing on today? Be honest with yourself. Is it your own strength, your ability to plan and control? Is it your emotions? If you feel good, you believe, but if life gets hard, your faith crumbles? Or is it the unchanging truth of Jesus Christ? If we're going to build our lives on the rock, we need to be intentional.

Paula Behrens:

Let me share three pillars that have been essential in my own walk with the Lord and that I believe are crucial for every Christian woman who wants to go deeper. First, intimacy with God through his Word. The Bible isn't just a collection of ancient stories. It's a living, breathing revelation of God's heart. When you open your Bible, you're not just reading, you're communing with God through His Holy Spirit. I remember reading through the Psalms every day. I would start reading and didn't stop until I felt God's peace surrounding me. Sometimes it was just a few minutes for that peace to flood my heart. During trying times, I may have read for four to six hours until I finally felt a sense of peace settle in, but it always did. God was faithful in giving me that peace, that rest that Jesus says we can have.

Paula Behrens:

I encourage you to carve out some sacred time each day. It doesn't have to be long, but it does need to be real. 1. Go to the word hungry. Ask God to speak and don't stop reading until something grabs hold of your heart. Write it down, meditate on it and live it out.

Paula Behrens:

2. Consistent prayer. Prayer is your lifeline. It's not just a grocery list of needs. It's a conversation with your Creator. When you pray, you're aligning your spirit with God's Holy Spirit. You're receiving his peace, his power and his perspective. Make prayer a rhythm. Whisper it while folding laundry. Sing it while driving. Cry it when you're overwhelmed. He is listening and he is speaking. Can you hear him?

Paula Behrens:

3. Spirit-led obedience. Obedience is where the rubber meets the road. It's easy to know what God says. It's harder to do it, especially when it costs something. But let me tell you there is no freedom like the freedom on the other side of obedience. It might mean forgiving someone who hurt you deeply. It might mean stepping out in faith when the path isn't clear. It might mean saying yes to ministry when you feel completely unqualified. Hello, all of that is my life story. But obedience is where faith becomes sight. It's where God shows up.

Paula Behrens:

Let's break this down practically. What does this look like on an average Saturday? It looks like speaking life over your spouse, children or grandchildren when they're pushing all your buttons. It looks like choosing peace when your plans fall apart. It looks like being generous when your budget says you shouldn't. It's in those small moments, those quiet decisions, where your foundation is either being strengthened or weakened. You don't have to be on a stage, writing a book or leading ministry to live a life that glorifies God. You just have to be faithful, right where you are. Because here's the thing when your faith is real in the mundane, it will be unshakable in the storm.

Paula Behrens:

Maybe you're listening today and thinking I want that kind of faith, but I feel so far from God. Maybe your Bible is gathering dust and your prayers feel empty. Let me encourage you. God hasn't moved. He's still there, arms open, ready to rebuild. Start small. Open your Bible today, even if it's just one verse. Say a simple prayer, even if it's just, Help me, Jesus. Reach out to a trusted friend and ask for prayer. God specializes in restoring broken foundations. You're not disqualified. You're not too late.

Paula Behrens:

The journey back begins with one step. Matthew 7, verse 24 through 25, reminds us that the house stood not because the builder was perfect, but because the foundation was strong. You may not get everything right, you may stumble, but if your life is built on Christ, you will stand and not just stand. You'll flourish, you'll thrive, you'll become a woman who weathers storms with grace, who radiates peace in chaos, who speaks truth in love, who lives a life others want to follow. And that, my friend, is the kind of faith that changes families, communities and generations to come.

Paula Behrens:

This week, I want to challenge you. I want to challenge you to read Matthew 7: 24-27 every day. Ask God to show you where your foundation is strong and where it needs repair. Commit to one act of obedience, just one, whether it's forgiving, giving or stepping into something new. Do it. And three, share this message with a friend. Don't keep this truth to yourself. Let's build together.

Paula Behrens:

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for every woman listening today. I thank you that you see her, that you know her and that you love her. Lord, draw her closer to you, show her the cracks in the foundation on which she currently stands and give her the courage to build on the solid rock, Jesus Christ. Stir up a hunger in her for your Word, a boldness in her for obedience, and a daily awareness of your presence. Make her life be a living testimony of what it means to embrace faith fully and completely. In Jesus' precious and holy name, we ask these things. Amen.

Paula Behrens:

Okay, sister, the foundation you build today determines the legacy you will leave tomorrow. So choose the rock, embrace faith, live deeply and never forget - you are seen, you are called and you are never alone. Until next time, keep building your house on the rock.

Paula Behrens:

Thank you for tuning in today and remember, just like setting biblical boundaries, it's okay to say no to things that don't serve you well, like that third piece of cake at the church potluck. If you've enjoyed this episode, we would truly appreciate it if you would take just a few moments to follow the show and leave a review. Also, prayerfully, consider investing just one hour to deepen your faith and nurture your spiritual growth. In your Aroma of Christ coaching hour, you will discover how to craft a personalized devotional routine that will fit perfectly into your busy schedule, incorporate essential oils into your spiritual practices, create an easy-to-follow tracking plan for consistency, and learn tried-and-true strategies to experience your quiet time with God not just as a routine but as a joyful journey. Schedule your call now at paulabehrens. com/ coaching. That's Paula Behrens B-. E-H-R-E-N-S . com/ coaching (no spaces). Be sure to check the show notes for all the links. Join us next week as we continue to discover how to live on purpose in Christ. Until then, keep leaning into Him and walking in His wisdom. See you next time.