The House Built on the Wrong Lot

The picture on the left is a 5,300 square-foot dream house in northeast Florida with an ocean view. There’s only one problem. It was built on the wrong lot. “We are in total disbelief, just amazed this could happen,” said Mark Voss, who owns a property management company.

How did it happen? The error can be traced to the first survey in 2013. The land surveying company misplaced the property stakes, and the foundation survey and construction were based on that error. Each day, dozens of subcontractors arrived to work at the wrong lot. A final survey also failed to find the mistake.

“We rely on the surveyor,” said Flagler County’s chief building official. “They are state licensed professionals and we count on them to get it right.” 

But they didn’t get it right. The building inspectors didn’t catch the mistake because they were more focused on the construction process itself than the lot survey. The blunder wasn’t discovered until six months after the house was completed.

Many people spend their entire life building on the wrong lot because they put their trust in misguided surveyors. They may be listening to someone who is convinced that God doesn’t exist—so you can live however you want without suffering any consequences. But if you get the lot wrong, everything you build on it will be wrong too. When God’s “final survey” comes, the error will be exposed and it will be too late to fix it.

Jesus said everyone is building on a foundation of sand or rock (Matt. 7.24-27). He said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts of them may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock” (7:24). Anyone who doesn’t act on His words is building on sand. Jesus is surveyor who tells you the correct place to put down the stakes. But are you doing what He says? Or are you building on the wrong lot? www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net Twitter:  @KentCrockett

The Things Not Seen

The following is from my new book If God Knows What I Need, Why Should I Pray?

There’s more to reality than what you can see with your eyes. God created everything in heaven and on earth, “visible and invisible” (Col. 1:16). Imagine a horizontal line that divides the things we can see from the things we can’t see. Everything “below the line” is visible and exists in the earthly realm. Everything “above the line” is invisible and exists in the spiritual realm.

Second Corinthians 4:18 describes the two realms: “While we look not at the things which are seen [below the line], but at the things which are not seen [above the line]; for the things which are seen are temporal [below the line], but the things which are not seen are eternal [above the line].”

The invisible things in the spiritual realm seem like foolishness to those who only believe in what they see in the earthly realm. Paul writes, “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” (1 Cor. 2:14). (Hendrickson Publishers 2016, p.46-47).

When we pray, we reach into the spiritual realm and ask God in heaven to intervene in our situations here on earth. Jesus said, “The things that are impossible with people [natural realm] are possible with God [spiritual realm].” (Luke 18:27) Since we can’t see what’s going on in the spiritual realm when we pray, we must trust God’s promises in His Word that what He says will come to pass. Faith is the conviction of the things not seen (Heb. 11:1). So the next time you pray, keep in mind the reality of the spiritual realm, which is an important part of receiving the answer.  www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

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If God Knows What I Need, Why Should I Pray? explains that some things in your life will not happen unless you pray. CLICK HERE to read chapter one.

Receive these devotionals (free) by email: You can subscribe in the box on the right at www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com (Your email will not be given out. You’ll receive an email when the new devotional is posted)

Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net Twitter:  @KentCrockett

Trusting God When You Don't Understand

The following is from my new book If God Knows What I Need, Why Should I Pray?

In the TV show 24, Jack Bauer is a special agent with the Counter Terrorism Unit. He’s always involved in a highly secretive plan that requires him to call the President of the United States to ask permission for a highly classified assignment. The President asks Bauer, “Jack, what exactly are you planning to do?”

Bauer answers, “Mr. President, you don’t need to know and I don’t have time to explain. Please, I just ask you to trust me. I promise I’ll do my very best to resolve this problem.” The President always gave him permission because his trust in Bauer was greater than his need to know.

Whenever we’re going through a trial and don’t understand, we’d like for God to explain why it’s happening. Instead of giving us clarification He says, “You don’t need to know. I just ask you to trust Me.” When you're devastated, your trust in God must become greater than your need to know.

Prayer’s fourth purpose is to let go of your problems and hand them over to God. You aren’t praying to get something, but to get through something. “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray” (James 5:13 NKJV). You’re going through a divorce, a loved one passed away, you’ve lost your job, or you’re under extreme stress. Prayer is how you release your burdens to the Lord so you can find peace of mind.

Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Paul does not say that getting the answer to your request will give you peace, but just turning your request over to God is enough to calm your soul. (Hendrickson Publishers 2016, p.193-194). www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

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READ SERMON:  Jonah 1—“Unwelcome Assignments” (Jonah didn’t want to do what God asked)

MY NEW BOOK: If God Knows What I Need, Why Should I Pray? Some things in your life will not happen unless you pray. CLICK HERE to read chapter one.

Receive these devotionals (free) by email: You can subscribe in the box on the right at www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com (Your email will not be given out. You’ll receive an email when the new devotional is posted)

Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net Twitter:  @KentCrockett

Watch Kent's Interview about new Prayer book

The book interview begins at the 5:00 mark.
Discusses the four purposes of prayer and answers several questions about prayer.
If God Knows What I Need, Why Should I Pray? is available at your local Christian bookstore and online stores. www.makinglifecount.net

The Throne of Grace, not The Throne of Terror

The following is from my new book If God Knows What I Need, Why Should I Pray? 

When I was a young, one particular scene in the movie The Wizard of Oz scared the wits out of me. Dorothy, the scarecrow, the tin man, and the cowardly lion are permitted to enter into the Wizard’s throne room. Fire and smoke surround the throne. The cowardly lion is absolutely terrified. A huge image of the Wizard’s head floats up before them and says in a booming voice, “I am Oz, the great and powerful! Who are you?”

The fearful four tremble in the Wizard’s presence. Dorothy says to the big face of the Wizard, “I’m Dorothy. We’ve come to ask you…” The Wizard interrupts her with a thundering, “Silence! The great and powerful Oz knows why you have come.” He then belittles the tin man, “You dare to come to me for a heart, do you? You clinking, clanking, clattering collection of junk!” (Hendrickson Publishers 2016, p.91,95)

Some people view God's throne like Oz's throne when they pray. But God calls His throne “The Throne of Grace” and not “The Throne of Terror.” Hebrews 4:6 tells us, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.” This verse tells us 5 things about how to pray (explained in detail in the book).

   1. WHO can go—“Let us therefore come”

   2. WHERE to go—“to the throne of grace”

   3. HOW to go—“come boldly”

   4. WHY to go—“that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help”

   5. WHEN to go—“in time of need”

Once you understand these 5 things, you’ll become more confident in your praying.

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

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NOW AVAILABLE at your local Christian bookstore. If God Knows What I Need, Why Should I Pray? Some things in your life will not happen unless you pray! CLICK HERE for a PREVIEW.

Receive these devotionals (free) by email: You can subscribe in the box on the right at www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com (Your email will not be given out. You’ll receive an email when the new devotional is posted)

Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net Twitter:  @KentCrockett