Category Archives: PRACTICES THAT HELP US Series (Mature Faith)

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Practices that Help Us, # 2 – Anchoring

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

1 Corinthians 5:7

Anchoring our Faith in God

We know we’re in trouble. The boat is drifting, but we don’t want it to get away from us. We throw the anchor over the side so the drifting is kept to a minimum. Later, we pull the anchor to make our way to the dock. With some effort, we manage to get the boat to the pier. We secure the boat to the pier in two places, bow and stern. Once the boat is secured, we can leave it for a moment. We are trusting the ‘anchor’ to do its job.

I remember when our ski boat ran out of gas in one of the fingers of Lake Oroville (when the lake was full). My dad grabbed the oar and paddled the boat long way in. It was slow going, but we made it back just before twilight.

Anchoring a boat, or any object, for that matter, becomes necessary if we want the object to remain in a designated spot. Does it matter what the anchor looks like? Not especially. What does matter is its functionality. The anchor must be heavy. It must be strong. It must be designed to do the job. An anchor, anchors. It holds the object secure even when rough seas toss it about. Like with a paperweight, the papers can’t float around or be misplaced when they’re adequately secured.

Passages of Scripture are like an anchor to keep us secure during troubled times. I can remember the first time Scripture upheld me while in a dark season in my life. I was a freshman in college. I’d been dating my best friend’s brother, someone considered good looking, cool, and a ‘catch.’ I couldn’t believe that he liked me, a country gal, or country bumpkin, as the case may be. However, the relationship didn’t last long before he dumped me. But it hurt a lot, anyway. I’d really and intensely fallen for him. I had trouble getting over him. I still longed to be with him. I literally felt sick.

During the aftermath and for a few months thereafter, Psalm 27 ministered to me and sustained me. I read it, and read it, and read it. “The LORD is my light and my salvation– whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life– of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1). This chapter became real to me. I needed its words “The LORD is the stronghold of my life.” I anchored my thoughts in Psalm 27. Soon the words became a strength in me.

Another Example of ‘anchoring’

Back in 2008, my sister’s family went through a serious rough patch. Worry was my sister’s constant nemesis, though she kept it to herself and didn’t share how intense and precarious their situation had become. Their family business was affected. Then it got worse. The struggle increased. Someone encouraged my sister to read Psalm 91, and she did.

Every day my sister anchored herself in the Word. This verse became her north star, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). Whenever she felt the worries piling up, this verse would come to mind. This chapter kept her thoughts centered throughout the years’ long ordeal. Looking back on those years, she can say, a battle was won. God was victor.

Through His words, God was saying to her that their family could trust Him to take care of them. She anchored herself in Psalm 91, reading it daily. It settled her when the fears were overpowering, when worries of what could happen overwhelmed her and threatened to get the better of her. She learned to trust in God when it all seemed utterly impossible. Her faith grew. She knew God would not abandon them. Many times He supplied their needs when they couldn’t see one step in front of them. The months of doing without and fearing the worst took a visible toll on them.

I could insert long paragraphs about the choices they made as their reality unfolded, but that’s their story to tell. Suffice it to say, God stripped way all that they had depended on and became their enough. Make no mistake, it was hard going, though they were uncomplaining. They came out of it in a different place spiritually than when they initially entered the crisis. Their faith had grown deeper. God had proved true to His Word. Now my sister and her husband irrefutably know that their Redeemer lives.

Our faith becomes sight as we anchor ourselves in the truths of God and His Word. Has this happened to you? Have you been so distressed that the thing seems impossible? Have you cried, “Lord, help me” when it all was too much? Did Christ help you? Did Christ come in and make a way through the desert when you utterly could not see the way? Was He your enough? It is in times like these that we hold on to faith and dive deep, deeper than we thought possible. We hold on for dear life to what is secure, to the Who of our Security, the Rock on which we stand.

The old hymn says it well.

We have an anchor that keeps the soul
steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love!

Priscilla J. Owens

Sustainability

God is good to us. He knows what we need before we need it. I love His incredible ‘present’ Presence. We go through seasons of ‘want’ that teach us about sustainability in our faith. Suffering has a purpose that we can only fully realize by going through it. It is then that we grow deeper in faith and spiritual experience.

It is then that we can put on the garment of faith that’s spun during the dark nights of limited light, when we faithfully and fearfully cling to the promises that are locked eternally in Scripture. For years, I clung to these promises from God. “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5), “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19), and “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). It was hard for me as I learned to trust, really TRUST and BELIEVE in God, the Forever Shepherd Who cares for His sweet ones, His beloved sheep. When I was vulnerable, weak, and traumatized, God knew it. God gently led me to where I was ready to receive my healing, freeing, and wholeness.

Anchoring your faith looks like that. It holds you secure as you go through the tumultuous storm. You trust in the unseen. Your faith becomes sight as you learn to trust in God and His faithfulness to you. Anchor yourself in His Word. It will hold you up, give you confidence and peace while you trudge this earthly veil of tears.

Heartwarming Story

“Yesterday it was the sweetest. We setup our Christmas tree in the evening and Braxton and Brailyn (our foster children, ages 4 and 6) were so enthralled. These two seem to have such minimal typical life experiences. It was just magical watching their eyes light up. Braxton was just staring at the tree once it was done and said, “the Christmas tree is very beautibul. It’s very beautibul.”

-Post on Facebook, by my daughter, 11-28-21

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God bless you on your spiritual journey.

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Practices that Help Us: #1 – “Soaking”

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Joshua 1:8

Soaking in the Word of God

I had a pot warming on the stove with the last of the turkey gravy from Thanksgiving. No one else was here and I got distracted doing other things. You know what’s coming. . . I smelt the burnt gravy before I realized what I’d done. The gravy was now black and bubbly. It was stuck fast to the saucepan. I knew what I would have to do. Nope, I didn’t throw the pot away, though it was tempting. I put hot sudsy water in it and left it to soak overnight. In the morning I tackled the chore. Shore ’nuff, I got it clean. Most of the black gooey gravy came off with a spatula. I used a SOS pad to finish up. It would have been triple hard without a good soaking first.

God knows what is good for us. He also knows our weaknesses. God instructs us to meditate on His Word day and night, soaking it in, with good reason. We are stronger when His words are inside us, -in our thoughts and slowly becoming part of us, outworking within us, -like a covering that keeps us warm, -like a map for directions that keeps us on track and focused, -like a mental exercise that keeps us from going astray or following what’s not good for us.

Keep At It

It may take days, weeks, or months of soaking, but we eventually start taking the concept in. In this instance, it’s okay to perseverate! We should keep returning to fixate on the verses we’re reading (and memorizing). It takes some intentionality. We have to purpose to do this. Yet, the passage we choose is feeding our soul and is making us more robust in our faith. And we may need its life-giving strength and encouragement to meet the challenges we are facing.

Although not original with me, the term ‘soaking’ is apt. It describes what happens when we apprehend knowledge while in-taking scripture. Soaking in a verse or two, a whole chapter, or a book helps us in diverse ways. We allow ourselves to absorb the Word. As we ponder the text, we are applying it to situations. The Word illumines our path. It impacts us in greater dimensions when we ‘soak’ it up. Sometimes this surprises us. We continue to soak, and soak, and soak, and to apply text to life as we learn the substance of its consistent reality.

The scripture’s essence impacts us in subtle and purposeful ways.

As we soften our attitudes and forgive those who have offended us, we are thinking differently about others, and our, or their, situations. The Word is changing us almost without us striving to be changed. It impresses us. Being open to God during this time of soaking is the core essential. Openness is critical to the outcome and to this practice becoming living truth in us.

Christ fulfills His divine destiny as the Living Word. He is Life to our soul. The longer we soak in God’s Word and Being, the more we will absorb. Our rough edges peal off. Others take notice. They wonder why we are different, what is making such a radical difference in us. We are being cleansed by God’s Word at work in our lives. We’re more tolerant of others who tend to annoy. Our anger has lessened. We’re less to control. We are handling life without letting its frustrations overwhelm us or annoyances getting the better of us.

Seemingly, with minimal effort, our attitude is positively affected when we soak in the Word.

How to Soak

It works this way, a verse comes alive and grips us. We pause and meditate on it. We think about it. Like a cow as it ruminates, we are slowly and systemically absorbing God’s truth. Its truth is touching our ‘touchy’ areas and making us kinder, softer. Our resolve is similarly affected. We are growing stronger. Soaking in God’s truth is producing godliness in us. The longer we soak, the cleaner we get. God is completing a work in us through His Word. We embrace what God shows us. A spiritual hunger is awakening. Some days, we can’t get enough of God’s Word. We read a chapter and then some. Soon, we’ve read the whole book.

Personal Example

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart“.

Psalm 91:4

There was a time when this verse spoke volumes to me. It reminded me of God’s protection. This verse ministered to me as I soaked in its meaning. “He will cover you with his feathers.” It’s symbolism became precious to me. I pictured Father God shielding me from the hard stuff, always knowing what is best for me. It’s words implied that God is my strong shield as my protector but He also is as gentle as a mother hen with chicks under her wings.

It’s like blue denim and lace, the contrast of strong with soft. Soak in that kind of substance and your world takes on newer, grander significance because it’s not about you, it’s about Him.

God is putting into us as we become more like Him and His dear Son.

. . .

A Positive Heartwarming Story

12/21/2020 Sy Garte

“I had my first Christmas tree, 25 years ago, in a foreign country, with a pregnant wife, almost no money, and not yet a believer. The “tree” was a small plastic ornament, with a red bow. I didn’t know why, but it filled me with joy. Now I know.”

Tweet seen on Twitter: by Sy Garte, an atheist turned believer. I shared his book here about his journey to faith.

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God bless you on your spiritual journey.