My Anchor Holds

His Word: So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.            Hebrews 6:18 NLT

Observation & Obedience: The promise referred to in our verse is the promise God made to Abraham in Genesis 17:4:  This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! The oath is the seal of guarantee that God would do what he said. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying: “I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.” (Hebrews 6:13-14). These are unchangeable because God doesn’t lie. 

These two unchangeable things are God’s nature and his promise. God embodies all truth, therefore, he cannot lie. Because God is truth, we can be secure in his promises; we don’t need to worry and wonder if he will change his plans. 

Knowing God will not go back on his word gives us great confidence to run to him for refuge; when our own world is falling apart, we can count on him to hold us together. This is the kind of hope we can cling to for life. And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised (v.15).

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure (Hebrews 6:19). 

Years ago when our girls were younger, we had a twenty-one foot boat. We would gather with other boating friends and family on the few hot summer days in Michigan to cool off and enjoy the weather and water. For some reason, my husband would have the hardest time getting our anchor to hold. It seemed to take him a number of times, frustration growing with each one, to finally get the anchor to grab onto the bottom and secure us.

Once we were secure, we were safe from drifting. Unfortunately, there were times when we didn’t realize the anchor had lost its grip and we were slowly moving away from our group. Then the whole process would start again!

How is your spiritual anchor holding today? Is it firm and secure or is there a risk of your drifting away? Has it found solid ground to grasp onto or is it just floating around below the surface?

If our hope is in God and his promises, believing that he is all truth and cannot lie and that he will not change his plans, we can be steadfast and secure. We are immovable. Our foundation is firm. Our faith is strong.

Do you ever feel yourself drifting away from your true source of security? Sometimes the anchor gives way and you don’t even notice that you’re slowly moving away. 

Run to God for refuge. Cast your anchor onto his promises. He can be trusted. Put all your hope in him; he will never let you down.

Prayer: “Dear God, thank you for being the one true God. You are true to your word, your promises, your covenants and your oaths. Why would I ever put my hope in anything or anyone else? The promises in your Word are for me to take personally. What you said to Abraham, Moses and David, you are saying to me as well. You are unchangeable. You are the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Amen.” 

Encouragement: Though the angry surges roll, On my tempest-driven soul, I am peaceful, for I know, Wildly though the winds may blow, I’ve an anchor safe and sure, That can evermore endure.

And it holds, my anchor holds: Blow your wildest, then, O gale, On my bark so small and frail; By His grace I shall not fail, For my anchor holds, my anchor holds.

Troubles almost ’whelm the soul; Griefs like billows o’er me roll; Tempters seek to lure astray; Storms obscure the light of day: But in Christ I can be bold, I’ve an anchor that shall hold.

From the hymn, My Anchor Holds by Daniel B. Towner, 1902