You read about Jesus and quote scripture about Jesus, but is your heart anchored to Jesus? None of us are immune from rejecting Jesus with our attitude and actions. We truly don’t know what tomorrow or our future looks like. We can make plans, but life has a way of altering these plans with no help from us. If we are not anchored to our first love, we run the risk of our triggers taking control instead of the Holy Spirit.
Something triggered it
Have you watched the show Intervention? It follows the life of an addict, and eventually, the family does an intervention to get the loved one help. How about the show Hoarders? It’s about someone buying or collecting excessive amounts of stuff and living in filthy and deplorable conditions. Eventually, family and friends get them assistance to help clean it up. I mention these shows because it was something great or small that triggered the behavior change.
The person was on top of the world. A star athlete or they were extremely smart and popular, or a beautiful wife and mother, then something happened. An injury took place or they lost a loved one. A divorce, sexual violation, sickness, or medical issue occurred. They came back from war with traumatic experiences or it could be something from their past that haunts them. Whatever happened turned their life upside down. The family is usually in shock because they didn’t think it would happen to their loved one who was always the life of the party.
Never say it can’t happen to you
We don’t know what we are capable of until we face a situation. This doesn’t mean we automatically go down a dark path, but it’s hard to imagine that we could even consider making the wrong choice when all is well. Get in the habit of never saying it can’t happen to you and this applies for good or bad. The quicker we realize we can do nothing without Christ and learn to lean on Him, we will yield better results. Meditating day and night on the biblical views we believe and endorse is paramount for us to stand in the midst of trials and persecutions. Practicing and implementing the things of the Lord every day will make it easier when we face life-changing circumstances.
We must work hard and daily to make sure we don’t have an emotional relationship with our Savior based on our circumstances. For example, when we have money in our bank accounts we’re praising God, when that changes we’re questioning His love for us. Our commitment to the Lord is easily challenged because we have an enemy who is always looking for ways to drive a wedge in between. Pride and ego cause us to have an inflated perception of our ability. If our hearts are anchored in humility to the Creator, we will endure and abound.
Forgetting
We know that God can heal and provide for us, and He does. The issue is that we can’t forget our past. Since we can’t forget we struggle with remaining anchored to Jesus our source. The devil keeps reminding us of our fears, failures, hurts, shortcomings, and sins until we latch on to other things to try to become numb to them. This is why it is crucial and beneficial to meditate day and night on the words of Jesus to combat the voice of the devil. Go boldly to the throne of God in time of trouble. Submit those fears, failures, hurts, shortcomings, and sins to the one who brings peace beyond our understanding. The one who gives beauty for ashes and gives rest to a mind that struggles with forgetting.
“to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;” Isaiah 61:3
In conclusion
Anchor means to be held securely in place. Who do you allow to hold your heart? What is your faith anchored to? Life is good, but life can also be chaotic. Our strength is temporary and can not withstand the strength of the devil, he never gets weary. He will never stop attempting to create doubt and provoking us to turn from the things of the Lord. Praise God that He will never leave us or forsake us, but to receive His security, we must constantly and consistently choose to be anchored to Jesus.
ACTION ITEM(S)
- Are you going through the motions in your relationship with Jesus or taking personal inventories to ensure your heart is anchored to Jesus?
- Do your emotions or circumstances dictate if you obey God?
- What are you doing to remain anchored to Jesus?
I want to thank you for this impactful and important message. Your blog has successfully altered my life in the positive. I may not read every week or keep up on a weekly basis, however you have impacted my life in a positive way and I am truly blessed with your insight and constant reminder of the goodness of God. Continue to walk in your purpose and allow God to minister to your body mind and spirit.
Michelle, Thank you for the encouragement. I need it just as the next person. It does my heart well that you read, glean, and it moves you for Jesus. Thank you for your comment!
Oh so good!!!
I wish I could say I was anchored all day everyday. But…… I fail at times. My goal is to please HIM and allow HIM to guide me each and every way. I’m going to work on this in the area of our home buying situation right now! I feel like I could really use this and apply it to that area at the moment! Thanks Carol!
Ashley, We all come up short, but praise God your goal and mine is to please Him!!! I’m standing in agreement with you on the house situation and look forward to hearing how God worked through this. Thank you for your comment!
This is a great reminder of how easy it is for our anchor to drift! I am so glad the Lord always throws us a lifeline, such as this blog! It’s up to us to grab hold and keep it!!
Lisa, Amen for the lifeline of Jesus Christ! Thank you for the lovely compliment, I am truly thankful and humbled!!!