I took this picture one day when we were on vacation and went to Beaufort South Carolina for the afternoon. This great anchor is in a park beside the water. As we set in the swing and basked in His creation, I was overwhelmed with a sense of peace. There was a light breeze, the sun was shining, the smells of the waterfront were evident, there were flowers blooming...it was so beautiful. The most peaceful part of that day was feeling close to the Lord. I started singing the old hymn "My Anchor Holds" when I saw this anchor. It reminded me of the time last spring when we were out on the Sea of Galilee and the Lord spoke to me about going deeper in my relationship with Him. The only way to go deeper is to be anchored in Him.
These last few weeks have been weeks of praying for believers who have become prodigals, believers who have allowed the world to become greater then the Lord, believers who are pretending they are 'ok' in their relationship with the Lord when it is evident they are not and believers who are numb due to circumstances which in turn has pulled them away from the Lord. I don't know that there has ever been a time in my life where my prayers were more for believers than those who have never accepted Him. It breaks my heart to see people in these situations. What do their friends and family think about being a Christian when they see them? How long is it going to take people to get past themselves and allow the Lord full surrender? When will people quit listening to the enemy's lies?
There is a word picture in Zechariah 9:1-8 that tells us we, as believers, will be protected and rescued from the evil world. In these verses we read of how the enemy is after God's people. We are seeing believers being deceived by the enemy more and more each day. Their actions are affecting the church to be powerless as they listen to the enemy instead of God. The only way to have God's power is to live in His power. The only way to live in His power is to be surrendered to Him. Matthew Henry writes about this passage: "God's house lies in the midst of an enemy's country; his church is as a lily among thorns. God's power and goodness are seen in her special preservation. The Lord encamps about his church, and while armies of proud opposers shall pass by and return, his eyes watch over her, so that they cannot prevail, and shortly the time will come when no exactor shall pass by her any more." Oh how I pray for God's power and protection to be over the Church. I pray for believers to turn back to His ways in order to allow Him to be the King of Kings of His Church.
The Lord took me to Hebrews 6 and I am crushed with these words...
4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
As I read this I was overwhelmed with sadness for those who once believed and have walked away. How can it be that it is impossible to come back to the Lord? I know from experience He accepts you back. I went to Matthew Henry for clarification and read:
"The humbled sinner who pleads guilty, and cries for mercy, can have no ground from this passage to be discouraged, whatever his conscience may accuse him of. Nor does it prove that any one who is made a new creature in Christ, ever becomes a final apostate from him. The apostle is not speaking of the falling away of mere professors, never convinced or influenced by the gospel. Such have nothing to fall away from, but an empty name, or hypocritical profession. Neither is he speaking of partial declinings or backslidings. Nor are such sins meant, as Christians fall into through the strength of temptations, or the power of some worldly or fleshly lust. But the falling away here mentioned, is an open and avowed renouncing of Christ, from enmity of heart against him, his cause, and people, by men approving in their minds the deeds of his murderers, and all this after they have received the knowledge of the truth, and tasted some of its comforts. Of these it is said, that it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance. Not because the blood of Christ is not sufficient to obtain pardon for this sin; but this sin, in its very nature, is opposite to repentance and every thing that leads to it. "
When we fall into sin, He is there to cleanse us. Praise His Holy Name! We must repent and come back into relationship with Him when something takes us away. His strength will overpower the enemy when he comes knocking at my door. The way to have His strength is to not give up knocking at heaven's door.
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for taking me back into relationship when I strayed. Thank You for Your love, mercy and grace. Thank You for protection over Your children. Father, I am praying for those who have strayed to find their way back to You. Lord, use Your children who are anchored in their relationship to say or do something that will make a difference in their lives. Father, fill me to overflowing with more of You so people will desire a relationship with You. May Your peace flow from me. Thank You Jesus for being My Anchor. Amen.
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