Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. 2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat--for he grants sleep to those he loves. 3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. 4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. 5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

Most of my life I have heard the first verse of this Psalm applied to the church and that the church must be the one God has built if it is to succeed. While this principle is true (any church that does not have God as its originator or have God’s approval will not ultimately succeed) that is not what this verse is about. This verse in the context of this Psalm seems to be talking about the home. When our homes are built by God according to his plans we will have strong and happy homes. However this must begin with the individual. Unless each of us is willing to let God build our life our homes will still not be what God wants and receive his blessings. As one Michael Jackson song (we offer our condolences to his family) puts it, to change the world we must begin with “the man in the mirror”. We are usually eager to change our spouse, our children, our parents, siblings, friends and anyone else but resist looking honestly in the mirror of God’s word at ourselves. Even when we see our faults and admit them, are we willing to change our lives? For the Lord to build our lives, we must humbly receive the word of God and allow it to be grafted into our hearts. God knows best and only wants what is best for us. God wants to protect us from danger and heartache that come from living for ourselves. To allow God to build us into his dwelling place, we must humbly submit to his Spirit’s control. This means that we spend more time in his word (read, study, meditate and then obey) and more time in open communication with him (talking and listening). As we do this we will begin to see the fruit of his Spirit blooming in our lives. It will be a gradual growing process and it takes time but each bloom and each blossom will show that God is working in us and changing us to fit the pattern of his likeness.

God, please help me to give up myself. Help me to live for you and for you alone. Fix in my heart the proper priorities so that I will love you more than this world and all the things of this world. Help me to have your wisdom to deal with this life so that I might be prepared to be with you in eternity. Fill me with your Spirit so that I become like you. I pray in Jesus name.

May God bless each of us as we allow him to re-build our lives.