Anchored

Anchored. To be fixed or fastened. I've always admired old rustic ships. I've often wondered what it would be like to float on an endless ocean under a sea of stars. Getting the pleasure of being lullabied to sleep by creaking wood and a gentle breeze. Being on a ship seems like a wonderful life full of adventure, until a storm rolls in.

During the chaos of a storm our main focus usually is getting to safety. We do not like the feeling of the unknown, of walking in what we cannot see. One thing that will save your life in a dangerous storm is shelter. God is our shelter. His name is a mighty strong tower that the righteous can run into and are safe. Storms can either magnify your carnality or you can magnify God and he can carve it out of your spirit. Your emotions will tell you one thing, but if you allow God's truth to guide you there is a certain peace that follows you. Wherever you go you will also bring the peace of God with you. You will walk into family reunions where arguing takes place and peace will enter with you. You will walk into Walmart and people will comment how beautiful you look. It's not because you looked particularly beautiful that day, but that they described it the best way they could not knowing the real reason. Psalms 119:50 says, "Even in my suffering I was comforted". How can you know the strength of your anchor unless stressed by a storm? Going through a trial takes walking by faith and not by sight. Standing on the promises of God. There is something so beautiful about someone who faces a storm, and allows it to catapult them towards their Maker. You may be fearful in a storm, but if you will allow him, God will show you his character. In this midst of chaos you will feel God's love and his unwavering hand of protection. In the darkest battle I have ever faced , I have learned more about God than ever before In my life.

Pilots have a certain way to survive when flying in storms. When flying they could be going in a tight circle but the pilot's senses tell him he is flying straight ahead. Your emotions and senses are deceitful. Their senses are telling them one thing and their instruments are telling them another. To survive in what they cannot see, they rely on their instruments. It will tell them what is the truth. God's word is our instrument and will tell us truth. Somethings God does not put us through but he can use it to shape and mold us if we allow him. The fact is God could come tomorrow and we are holding onto things that will never line up to eternity. What weight does your circumstance have against eternity? Nothing!

I heard of a distressing situation told where a man was on his death bed.He prayed to God that he would give him just a short few more years and he would right all the wrongs he ever did. That night the man had a dream. In this vivid dream he went to hell. He heard the wailing and the gnashing of teeth. With sweat dripping from his brow, due to fear and the heat, he saw his mother in law there. Surprised , he begged God why she was there? She was the prayer warrior in the family and the first one to church. His mother in law taught Sunday school and was simply the most righteous woman he knew. God replied, "She had a situation happen to her when she was a child. She lived her whole life having people believe she had forgiving the man, but alas one sharded piece of her heart held unforgiveness and would not let go". Storms have a way of bringing out your character. Its a teaching season. When a goldsmith is purifying the metal , he knows its purified when he can see his reflection. There are somethings you can only learn in a storm. It exposes the impurities in you such as unforgiveness, bitterness, insecurity and fear.

Don't despise your teaching season. Don't despise your storm. Learn from it! Count it a joy! Let your Maker, the one who knows your thoughts and your heart, mend the heart he made and mold you as clay. How can you know of God's faithfulness if you have never had to fully rely on him? How can you know of his healing power if never healed? There is something about brokenness during a storm that attracts the spirit realm. It stands at attention. The spirit realm watches you, as you watch God. Be still and worship, and watch your worship roll out the red carpet for God to enter the situation! Don't let what you see take away what God has said! Stay Anchored!

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11