Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Have you ever been out on a boat when it is windy and the waves keep pulling the boat toward the shore? I have, and when you are trying to stay put, you need to throw in the anchor.

The main reason a boat needs an anchor is to ride out storms so that it is not blown off course or into the rocks or reefs nearby. Even in a safe harbor, a ship needs an anchor so that it will not drift, hit something, and sink. Whether in the storms of life or in the harbor during the calm times of life, we all need an anchor for our souls so that we do not destroy our lives.

Hebrews 6:19 states,

• The certain hope of our future salvation is an anchor to steady our souls while we wait on God in present storms.

Waiting on God is not a passive thing. This word “wait” means expectancy. As we are standing in faith for the promises of God to be fulfilled in our lives, we have to continue to meditate on the promises by speaking them, by thanking God for them, and by reading and declaring the Scriptures.

In Romans 4, it says that Abraham was strengthened in his faith as he held on to the promises of God. Imagine that?!? Abraham, the father of our faith, had to wait to see the promises of God fulfilled in his life. But, he did not give up. He may not have understood it all, but he held on to the promises of God and supernaturally became stronger and stronger. Romans 4:20-22 (ESV) says,

• “No unbelief made him waver cornering the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully understand convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.  That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness.”

God does not want us to become weaker while we are waiting on Him. He does not want us worn down and exhausted wondering when He is going to come through for us. No, He wants us to grow strong in our faith, being empowered by Him. This is how we wait the right way – By holding onto the promises of God. Then we are strengthened and secure in faith.

I exhort you today to make the decision to hold on to the promises of God. Purposefully set your mind on His mercy, goodness, and lovingkindness. Know that He wants to bless you! Come into His presence with thanksgiving in your heart. Embrace His promises in your heart. God gave us His Word. In Hebrews 5:13-20 (MSG) we read,

• When God made his promise to Abraham, he backed it to the hilt, putting his own reputation on the line. He said, “I promise that I’ll bless you with everything I have – bless and bless and bless!” Abraham stuck it out and got everything that had been promised to him. When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them so that if there is any question that they will make good on the promise, the authority will back them up. When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee: God cannot break his word! And because His Word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It is an unbreakable spiritual lifeline.

I exhort you to stand on the promises of God – It will ANCHOR YOUR SOULS!

Standing on the Word of God,

Lisa Gordon

Jesus City Church