The Anchor Holds

This morning I found myself in Romans 7 & 8. How refreshing it is to know that even Paul struggled at times with knowing in his mind what was right but doing in his flesh what was wrong. The great thing is he learned that he did not have to stay in that battle because the power of the Holy Spirit of God was living inside of him. Living the Christian life is impossible without the transformation that is brought on by the renewing of the mind and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The more we follow the Spirits lead, the less power the flesh has over us. Dying to self is a lifetime battle. It’s like those sci-fi films where the “creature” is shot and falls “dead” only to have him begin to move and before you know it that “creature” is up and coming after you again. The great thing about being blood bought is that we have the “silver bullet” to kill the flesh. There is nothing “self” or flesh can do against the blood of Jesus. It was refreshing and encouraging to be reminded that the struggle is not hopeless, in fact, our hope is in Christ and our security is being grounded and anchored to the rock.

Then as I was driving to work the Lord took the Word and gave me a visual picture of what he was saying to me in my quiet time. I noticed a “road work” sign along the highway. It was all bent and the metal was mangled and it was lying on its side. It looked like it had battled the high winds and lost. As I continued down the road, there were 3 or 4 more just like the first one and then all of a sudden there stood one. It was the very same type of sign but it stood straight and tall as an arrow. It was so straight and tall that it really jumped out at me and of course, the Holy Spirit pointed it out as well. As I looked at the one that stood upright, the Holy Spirit asked me what made the difference. I looked and at the base of the sign there were 4 or 5 sand bags keeping it secure. The Holy Spirit said, “Debbie, it’s the anchor that holds, it’s being grounded and secured that makes the difference.” Without the Spirit of God ruling in us, leading and guiding us we would be just like those mangled, bent signs, lying on their side. Not only were they bent and beat up, the message they were meant to display was not even visible. The purpose of their existence had been rendered useless because they were not secure, they were not grounded and there was no anchor holding them and keeping them from being destroyed by “life’s” storms.

Romans 8:5, 6 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

May God bless you BIG!!!
Debbie