Hope is the Anchor for the Soul
The saying goes that “hope is the anchor for the soul,” which comes from the Bible—the book of Hebrews. The actual verse says:
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (Hebrews 6:19 NIV)
I love the analogy of hope as an anchor. My family and I once lived in Den Helder in the Netherlands before we emigrated to England, some 20 years ago. Den Helder is where the Dutch Navy is located, and it has a thriving fishing community. I remember us strolling down to the harbor and taking pictures with the kids by these gigantic anchors, which made us all seem so small. These anchors, once released, would sink deep into the seabed and rest, keeping the largest vessels in place despite the raging elements.
In the same way, God gives us security in the storms of life that we experience. The anchor in Hebrews 6 speaks of Jesus, who restored the peace between God and us, so that we now can go into the “inner sanctuary” and meet with the Living God. The promise we have is eternal life because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. This hope is eternal, firm, and secure. It gives us a steady footing when the going gets tough and storms seem to overwhelm us.
God wants to remind you today that His Son Jesus is your anchor. He is the Hope for the nations, the only One who can still the storms in your life today. Despite the uncertain times we live in, He holds you firmly in the palm of His hand and will never let you go.
I Will Strengthen Thee – Streams in the Desert – November 9
- 20229 Nov
They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn and grow as the vine (Hosea 14:7).
The day closed with heavy showers. The plants in my garden were beaten down before the pelting storm, and I saw one flower that I had admired for its beauty and loved for its fragrance exposed to the pitiless storm. The flower fell, shut up its petals, dropped its head; and I saw that all its glory was gone. “I must wait till next year,” I said, “before I see that beautiful thing again.”
That night passed, and morning came; the sun shone again, and the morning brought strength to the flower. The light looked at it, and the flower looked at the light. There was contact and communion, and power passed into the flower. It held up its head, opened its petals, regained its glory, and seemed fairer than before. I wonder how it took place–this feeble thing coming into contact with the strong thing, and gaining strength!
I cannot tell how it is that I should be able to receive into my being a power to do and to bear by communion with God, but I know It is a fact. Are you in peril through some crushing, heavy trial? Seek this communion with Christ, and you will receive strength and be able to conquer. “I will strengthen thee.”
YESTERDAY’S GRIEF
The rain that fell a-yesterday is ruby on the roses,
Silver on the poplar leaf, and gold on willow stem;
The grief that chanced a-yesterday is silence that incloses
Holy loves when time and change shall never trouble them.
The rain that fell a-yesterday makes all the hillsides glisten,
Coral on the laurel and beryl on the grass;
The grief that chanced a-yesterday has taught the soul to listen
For whispers of eternity in all the winds that pass.
O faint-of-heart, storm-beaten, this rain will gleam tomorrow,
Flame within the columbine and jewels on the thorn,
Heaven in the forget-me-not; though sorrow now be sorrow,
Yet sorrow shall be, beauty in the magic of the morn.
–Katherine Lee Bates
Today’s Devotions
November 9
Proverbs 9:8-10 8Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. 9Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. 10“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
It takes a humble heart to receive correction. You can almost gauge your spiritual growth by how well you take rebuke. When we are prideful and immature, our first response is to pick out the wrong in those who have come to instruct us. We may even voice what we think is wrong with them, just to show them that they are not without fault.
As we grow and God deals with our pride, we tend to listen without responding, and we may even thank the those who has taken the effort to correct us. But later, behind their back, we tell others how arrogant they were to pick out our fault when they have so many of their own. We may acknowledge some truth to their statement, but we console ourselves with justifications for our weakness. “After all, who is perfect?” we ask.
When we have failed like this a number of times and the voice of the LORD begins to get through our walls of our pride, we begin to understand that the LORD and His love for us is what makes us of value. Then, when a voice of correction comes, we may still flinch with pain from the blow, but we no longer look at the messenger. We know God allowed the messenger to come for our good. We take the message to the LORD and examine our condition. As we discern how much of the rebuke is true, we ask the LORD to help us express His life in that area, and not self. We take that old nature to the cross and leave it there. Then we can rejoice that the LORD has drawn us closer to Himself. We may even sincerely thank the messenger and ask for his help.
Consider: What a difference in our reaction to rebuke as we mature in spirit! At what stage are you?
Spurgeon at the New Park Street Chapel: 365 Sermons
One antidote for many ills
“Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.” Psalm 80:19
Suggested Further Reading: Revelation 3:1-6
We want a revival, if we would promote the glory of God. The proper object of a Christian’s life is God’s glory. The church was made on purpose to glorify God; but it is only a revived church that brings glory to his name. Do all the churches honour God? I tell you no; there are some that dishonour him—not because of their erroneous doctrines, nor perhaps because of any defect in their formalities, but because of the want of life in their religion. There is a meeting for prayer; six people assemble beside the minister. Does that proclaim your homage to God? Does that do honour to Christianity? Go to the homes of these people; see what is their conversation when they are alone; mark how they walk before God. Go to their sanctuaries and hear their hymns; there is the beauty of music, but where is the life of the people? Listen to the sermon; it is elaborate, polished, complete, a masterpiece of oratory. But ask yourselves, “Could a soul be saved under it, except by a miracle? Was there anything in it adapted to stir men up to goodness? It pleased their ears; it instructed them in some degree, perhaps, but what was there in it to teach their hearts?” God knows there are many such preachers. Notwithstanding their learning and their wealth, they do not preach the gospel in its simplicity, and they do not draw near to God our Father. If we would honour God by the church, we must have a warm church, a burning church, loving the truths it holds, and carrying them out in the life. Oh that God would give us life from on high, lest we should be like that church of old of whom it was said, “Thou hast a name to live, and art dead.”
For meditation: Is the revival of God’s church and the glory of his name in this land a great concern to you (Psalm 85:6-9)?