Will Your Anchor Hold?

NLT Hebrews 6:18-19 18 So God has given us both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to his promise with confidence. 19 This confidence is like a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain of heaven into God’s inner sanctuary.

Perhaps you’ve heard the expression, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. Sounds nice, but what happens when you’re not feeling quite so tough? When you feel like Satan and the world have been playing Wimbledon caliber tennis, and you were the tennis ball?

What an encouragement I find in the promise that God’s promise, and His oath, are unchangeable. He has promised us so much, this article does not even begin to have the space to list all of them. But chief among them is the assurance of salvation in Jesus Christ; God’s greatest blessing to man.

When our faith wavers, instead of a ship fastened firmly by a strong anchor, we drift. Satan would like nothing better than to see us drift from the safety of God and His promises. He distracts our attention, anyway he can, from God. Maybe its life trials, unachieved goals, or perhaps its prosperity, that causes doubts to creep in. There are symptoms, and often a recognizable pattern, of spiritual drift:

• Carelessness with personal devotions: Bible study & prayer,

• Absenting one’s self from church friends, involvement with church activities & services,

• Increasing worldliness

For the Christian, this simply increases the guilt and frustration, and the trials. Fortunately there is a cure for drift.
Missionary Hudson Taylor was a man of great faith in God. He first went to China in a sailing vessel. Very close to the shore of an island the ship was becalmed, and slowly began drifting shoreward, unable to go about, and the inhabitants of the island, cannibals, were eagerly anticipating a feast. The captain came to Mr. Taylor and asked him to pray for God’s help. “I will,” said Taylor, “provided you set your sail to catch the breeze.” The captain didn’t want to make himself a laughing stock by setting sails in a dead calm. Taylor said, “I will not undertake to pray for the vessel unless you will prepare the sails.” When it was done. Taylor retired to his stateroom and began to pray. While praying there was a knock at his door. “Who is there?” The captain’s voice responded, “Are you still praying for wind?” “Yes.” “Well,” said the captain, “you’d better stop praying, for we have more wind than we can well manage.” A hundred yards from shore, a strong wind struck the sails of the boat, so that the inhabitants of the island were cheated out of their human prey.
Is you’re anchor firm, or is there some serious drift? Spend time focusing on, and claiming, God’s promises for your life (Jeremiah 29:13, & Hosea 14:4 are favorites of mine). Start with one promise, understand it, claim it for your life, pray and ask for its fulfillment in your life as God wills, and place yourself where you can experience the surety of God’s promise. Our faith is our anchor. Lets help it grow.

Will your anchor hold in the storm of life, when the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain, will your anchor drift or firm remain?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
Fastened to the Rock that cannot move, grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.

Pastor Mike Wise