One of my absolute favorite things to do in the summer is go boating on a lake in the warm summer sun. I have fond memories of summer vacations with my family on Lake LBJ in Texas. My family now enjoys lake days on Lake St. Louis. We spend our lake day doing water sports, cruising and fishing. Many times while my family is boating, we will find a calm cove to pull in and anchor down for a swim or a picnic lunch. Sitting on the water, soaking up the sun and God’s beautiful creation helps me be still and draw closer to God.
Our boat has an anchor at the front at the back that we will throw over to help us stay in place. An anchor has to be the correct size and at an angle in order to keep the boat from drifting. The last thing you want to do while swimming is to get everyone out in the water back into the boat and move the boat back to the center to anchor back down. You need the anchor to be firm and secure.
This reminds me of the importance of having a firm anchor in our lives. An anchor for our soul that is stable, unbreakable, and keeps us connected to God, so we can withstand the rough waters and storms that may come our way and not allow us to drift aimlessly through life. This anchor of hope is Jesus!
Hebrews 6:19 NIV - We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
We all experience storms as we go through life. Are you dealing with rough waters in your marriage, a friendship, a co-worker, your child, your finances, your health? As I deal with these trials it is so helpful to have a strong foundation of hope in Jesus to help me get through the waves.
Ways to stay anchored:
1- Relationship with Jesus
This hope comes from a relationship with Him. Not just knowing of Jesus but truly having a relationship with Him. When we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior we have hope there is more to our life than just this world we are living in. We have hope in eternity!
Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
We have hope, confident assurance, that because of our relationship with Jesus we will live forever with Him one day in heaven. It is an eternal perspective that definitely helps bring me peace!
If you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please reach out to Fearless and let us have conversations with you about this. We would love nothing more than for you to have your eternal life anchored to Jesus.
2- Prayer
Once you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior He desires to have a continual relationship with you! Just like a relationship with a friend requires communication, Jesus wants to have communication with you, His child. This communication with Jesus comes in the form of prayer, which is just talking and listening to Him.
A great verse that talks about prayer and anxious thoughts is found in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
My favorite part of this verse is what it says happens after we turn our anxious thoughts over to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all will guard our hearts and minds!
Prayer helps us have a relationship with the Lord and anchors our soul.
3- Daily Bible Reading
Another way to help anchor our soul is to be reading God’s word daily. The Bible is His way to teach, instruct, guide, encourage and equip us. He uses His word to speak to us and grow us to be more and more like Him. It is His love letter to His children.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Check out this resource called a Prayerful Planner which is a tool to use to help you in reading God’s word each day.
4- Go to Church Regularly
The church should be a safe place where you can go to learn more about Jesus from a Bible teaching pastor and to join together with other believers that are doing the same. My faith foundation comes from growing up in a church that helped me discover who Jesus was and learn more about Him on a regular basis. If you need help finding a church, please reach out, we would love to help direct you to a local church. The church will be a place that can continue to help you provide a firm foundation of faith and anchor for your life.
One of my favorite songs that talks about the faithfulness of God and Jesus being our anchor and firm foundation is Promises by Maverick City Worship. Take a listen and let the lyrics speak to your heart.
The lyrics say:
I put my faith in Jesus
My anchor to the ground
My hope and firm foundation
He'll never let me down
Though the storms may come and the winds may blow
I'll remain steadfast
And let my heart learn, when You speak a word
It will come to pass
Great is Your faithfulness to me
Great is Your faithfulness to me
From the rising sun to the setting same
I will praise Your name
Great is Your faithfulness to me
Fearless offers great ways to help strengthen your anchor of hope. Join us at one of our upcoming events!
I hope you can join me at an event soon as we continue to grow and cast an anchor together.
With love,
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