My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness - on Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand. Words from a gospel song I remember singing so many times in church, brings back  many great memories of my early Christian life.

That brings up the question, what is the foundation that we build our lives on? Obviously we learn from our parents when we are young using the teachings they give us to build our lives upon. Influences from everywhere else add to the mix, and of course if they take us to church then we learn much about faith. Or not!

Most every building has a foundation that is comparable to a rock. Concrete mixed with rock or a rock itself, doesn't mater it's all rock. The reason is obvious. a rock can only be shaken by a catastrophic event, and even then it usually holds up under intense pressure. However, some buildings like those on the beach, are built on shifting or sinking sand and are easily blown over by a devastating hurricane.

Our lives are comparable to that.  My younger days were spent as a Catholic Altar Boy in a Catholic Military boarding school. I learned about God, heard about him every day, but I wasn't really listening. Too busy paying attention to sports and other things. later as a Marine in Viet Nam I don't ever recall praying and in my first marriage my wife was Godly but I was a mess from war and other difficult situations.

My foundation was weak and exposed during my addiction. Only by the grace of God was I saved and my addiction was ended. Then I began to rebuild that foundation with the love of God, his forgiveness, his desire for me to believe in myself and to succeed.  Brick by brick that foundation was laid as others poured the word of God into me and showed me how to live a successful life..

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2

The sinking sand is gone, the stronghold has been established.  Like I had to, ask yourself a question, what is my foundation built upon, and when the wind and wildness of life try to knock me over, where do I go to find something to stand firm upon?

Not far, he's already there waiting for us!

Not today, not on any day, not by any force on this earth can God be stopped. There are no chains of any sort that can hold him back as evidenced by many biblical references, so why do we think he cannot break our personal chains of attachment and addiction?

Psalm 107:13-14 - Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of the darkness; the utter darkness, and broke away their chains.

Yesterday I led a group discussion of over 100 men at Good Landing Recovery and I used one chapter,  Acts 12 to demonstrate this point. In it the evil King Herod kills one of the brothers (James, the brother of John) just because he was a member of the new "church" movement then imprisons Peter intending to put him on trial. They bound him in chains. However, the church began to pray for Peter and then God showed up.

He sent an angel to do this: He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. Quick get up he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrist. Soon Peter was knocking on the disciples door and they were astonished he was free. Then the highly agitated Herod had the guards executed who let him go (not realizing the divine intent), gave a public address where he was proclaimed a god and did not refute it, not credit the Original God (OG).

For his lack of humility God sent another kind of angel that struck Herod down , and he was eaten by worms and died. Ugly for sure, but a message was sent, God is unstoppable when it comes to defending his people and seeing that His will is carried out. Next it says, But the word of God continued to increase and spread.

No matter what condition we feel this world is in today, God is always going to be unstoppable and all he really wants us to do is to do what  Peter was doing before he got locked up, spread the Good News., and quit worrying about what others say.

Then he will take care of the rest, including our enemies! (Now which angel did you want?)

That was the title in the daily devotional by Max Lucado today. I read it several times and these words jumped out at me: Jesus didn't quit. But don't think for one minute that he wasn't tempted to.

All we have to reference about this is the experience in the garden before his death where he was sweating blood in anxiety over what he was about to face. If he was like us but not of us, he was still trying to show us how to handle those critical moments when we want to give up.

His way of course was to re-route his feelings into prayer, alone with God in heaven to connect to his purpose. When he connected he said yet not my will, but yours be done. Immediately God sent an angel to strengthen him, not avoiding the most difficult task ahead, but strengthening him to face it.

I have personally followed this blueprint to face many trials and it absolutely works. Most certainly I have nearly sweated blood over the anticipated outcome and God has fortified my spirit to be courageous. In my times of addiction I quit difficult situations many times, but not now. I repeat to myself these biblical words be strong and courageous for the Lord your God goes before you!

Yes he does, yes he will, but if we doubt that he will we will buckle before he does. Once we buckle in fear, the fear will multiply which eliminates the power of faith in him and leaves it to our own devices which usually fail. 
Don't give up! On the other hand each battle of faith we win multiplies as well into magnificent courage to fight again, and again and again. And as each battle is won with God we realize we are now living a victorious lifestyle.

Who did it: God did it, in person, and on our behalf through heaven as well!