Friday 27 June 2014

His Anchor Gift of Hope



I love boats, ever since I was a kid my parents owned speed boats and we would go boating and skiing on the vlei and the dam. I remember sitting snugly on my mom’s lap and hearing the motor roar, the speed pushing us forward, I would scream out joyfully and shout “Go, Go, Go!!”
My father often tried to teach me how to steer a boat and we would inevitably end up in the reeds, which is pretty dangerous when the motor propellers are sticking out. More recently though, we had a beautiful holiday house on a yacht basin and my family owned a yacht. We would go sailing on in to the enclosed marina and then out in to the ocean, where the waves would lap up the front of the boat and we would calmly enjoy the setting sun and cool drinks in our hands. We would chat and stare out at the great beyond and I would sit and wonder and feel frightened at what I could not see beyond the burning, misty horizon. Feeling so safe in the enclosed bay, I would stare at the shoreline where the tanners were enjoying the breeze and I would look over at the horizon and just wonder. They would talk about sailing to the islands and just throwing it all to the wind, a dream of many I gathered. The one thing however that always fascinated me beyond imagination since I was a child, is the anchor of a boat. We would drop anchor and sit and I would stare at the chain and wonder about it all the way down there, unseen and yet steadily holding us to the same spot. I would think about the mermaids swimming at the bottom and just deciding to unhinge that sturdy anchor and then we would go floating on the hands of the sea! How I was fascinated beyond measure by that anchor. 

We who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
where our forerunner, Jesus,
has entered on our behalf.
Hebrews 6: 18 – 19 (NIV)

Sea Anchor, N. A sea anchor (also known as a drift anchor, drift sock, para-anchor or boat brake) is a device used to stabilize a boat in heavy weather. Rather than tethering the boat to the seabed, the sea anchor increases the drag through the water and thus acts as a brake. (Wikipedia)
Over the past 2 weeks Father has given me this scripture as a treasured possession, as though He wrote it on a piece of paper and slipped it in to my hand and whispered hold on to this my love.
I have recited and meditated and held on this scripture intently as the waters got rough and surely enough His promises are steady to hold us through the heavy weather. Hope is the anchor, that heavy object at the end of that chain which I always stared at and wondered about it. Hope in who Christ says He is, in all He is doing and about to do, Hope in the fact that though the boat may get tossed around, our hearts can be secure and firm if we hold on to the hope we have in the Rock of Ages. In this moment, this very moment Yeshua is all I need, He is my Rock and the One who has gone in to that sanctuary so that I could be drawn in to the place of intimate hope and Love. My boat may be a yacht, a speedboat or a hovercraft – whatever my boat of life is that rides on the waves – I am carrying with me that anchor of hope which He purchased for me and I will not let it go because it fascinates me still and deeper still, it holds me when the weather gets stormy.

Life is like a boat but don’t forget to take your anchor along, because as it says in Corinthians, and now these three remains, faith, hope and love..... (1 Corinthians 13:13). Shalom!

6 comments:

  1. The hope we have in what He has already accomplished for us! It's not always so easy to live out of that truth - we so often get caught in the reeds of life. Have a blessed week!

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    1. So true June, may we all have the strength to navigate the waters of life, I remember driving the old speedboat in to the reeds and my father would try and explain how to get out and then eventually he would just take over but at least he trusted me enough with that boat. I think Father is like that too. Have an awesome weekend and thanks for stopping by!

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  2. Hope is our Anchor... I love that verse and your reflection here! So powerful!

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    1. Hey Karrilee good to see you here! May you have a blessed weekend!!

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  3. I love that verse - yes - an Anchor for our soul! Visiting on Tues at Ten! :)

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    1. Hey Rebecca, nice to "meet" you, and thanks for visiting! May our souls be anchored in His Grace an Perfect Love, for all time. Many blessings!

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