A Strong Anchor II

 

A Strong Anchor II

 

Lamentations 3:22-23, It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, Because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is thy faithfulness.

Theme: God’s loving mercies never run out, and He offers us a fresh start and renewed strength daily. 

Relevance: A ‘leaving of the old situations behind’ is reason to hope again, even in the middle of our seriously painful experiences God’s compassions reach out to us still (Lam. 3:21–23). We all have been tempted to ‘bottle up’ our experiences… ‘bottle up’ our emotions…suppress or hide our true feelings instead of expressing or processing them with God’s eternal truth.

Introduction:

Continuing this thought we must now consider the key concept in these verses and then their implications in everyday experiences. Let's begin with our basis outlook and posture. 

Lesson:

Approach Life with This Conviction—that God is GOOD!

Beloved, this idea will demand your faith like nothing else will. Many people have walked away from ‘Christianity’ because they failed to value the truth that God is good! Use your faith to believe this communication from the Holy Spirit through the Word. We can start each morning with gratitude, leaving yesterday’s failures behind, and trusting God’s steady compassion during hard times. 

      1.    Start renewed each morning: Thank God every day for a clean slate. Do not let past mistakes or yesterday’s heavy stress ruin today. God’s mercy resets with every sunrise (Rom. 12:1-2). 

2. Release guilt and shame: Remember that God’s great love stops you from being overwhelmed by your flaws. When you feel unworthy, after your confession, accept His forgiveness instead of punishing yourself (1 Jn. 1:5-8). 
3. Be honest in tough times: Allow yourself to feel grief or pain, just as the prophet Jeremiah did in Lamentations. Bring your honest struggles and broken heart to God in prayer rather than hiding them, pretending it does not matter, or burying them under business and distractions.
4. Show mercy to others: Pass on the same love, compassion, patience, and kindness you receive from the Lord. Forgive people who wrong you, treating them better than they deserve because God does the same for you and me (Eph. 4:30-32). 
5. Build sturdy trust: Rely on God’s unchanging character when life feels unpredictable (2 Pet.1:19-21). Anchor your hope and confidence in His faithfulness rather than in changing human circumstances. 

Everything in us and everything around us will scream that God is NOT good. He permits suffering and pain…He allows wars, earthquakes, diseases, murder, death, sorrow, pain, devastation, and suffering! Why doesn’t He prevent this if He really is all powerful and good? Again, you must use your faith with great tenacity! People commonly place their own views ahead of God’s revelation to their own detriment. You must believe God instead of yourself or what you feel! Give yourself permission to trust what the Holy Spirit is saying from the Bible…God is Good!!! The awful circumstances of people reveal just how good God really is while forcing us to realize just how awful our sinfulness is.  

Incorporate this Truth into Your Prayers!

Prayer points based on Lamentations 3:22–23 focus on God's unfailing mercy, daily renewal, and steadfast love in times of trouble. 

          1.    Be Grateful for His Preservation

• Thank God that His steadfast love keeps you from being completely overwhelmed or consumed by your current trials.
• Declare that His grace sustains your life despite past mistakes or heavy burdens. 

     2. Receive His Fresh Mercy Each Day

• Ask God to wash away yesterday's guilt, failures, and anxieties with His brand-new morning mercies. Make the choice to confess and forsake any known sin.
• Pray for the mental and emotional capacity to let go of past regrets and embrace a clean slate today. 

     3. Trust in His Unfailing Compassion

• Pray against feelings of abandonment, reminding yourself that God's compassion does not run out or end.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to comfort your heart when facing uncertain circumstances or deep pain. 

     4. Declare His Faithfulness Boldly

• Praise God for His unchanging character, noting that His faithfulness does not depend on your own strength.
• Communicate stability and peace to your family, work, and future, anchored in His reliable promises. 

Conclusion:

The prophet, pondering his bitter afflictions, realizes how they have humbled his soul. He knows that God remembers the humble and afflicted, and so he expresses hope. Verses 22-39 speak of the poet’s reassurance in Jehovah’s goodness and his resignation to His sovereign ways. 22-24. His compassions fail not. The loving-kindness (ḥesed, “steadfast love”) of Jehovah is unfailing. It is daily renewed (like the manna of old); hence his people are not consumed, and a remnant remains as a seed for a new beginning. Great is thy faithfulness (v. 23). “Jehovah is my dearest treasure,” declares my soul, “therefore I do hope in him” (v. 24).^[1]

We have an Anchor that keeps the soul focused and productive! God’s steadfast love and mercy (His goodness) are everlasting, thus providing us fresh hope and a clean slate every single morning even during occasions when we deserve the worse…when we are getting what we have really earned. While facing the devastation of divine chastening, and in times of deep misery, God’s faithfulness remains as our undiminishing hope. This ‘anchor’ guarantees heavenly support in Christ to cope with the burdens we observe and feel so deeply.

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift or firm remain?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Stedfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.

--Priscilla Jane Owens (1829-1907) and William James Kirkpatrick (1838-1921)

In the final analysis we must remember or reflect on the idea that God is good.

·        Psalm 100:5, For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

·        Psalm 106:1, Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

·        Psalm 145:9, The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

·        Nahum 1:7, The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

·        Psalm 34:8, O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

This is your personal invitation to experience God directly! Encounter His life-giving ‘goodness’ by actively trusting this reality claim when life hurts the most rather than pridefully/blindly pushing through on your own power or merely mentally consenting to its accuracy.

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^[1] Charles F. Pfeiffer, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary: Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1962), La 3:19.

The Clarity of Truth

The Clarity of Truth

John 8:32; 14:6; 17:17; 2 Cor. 5:7; Hebrews 11:1

Theme: Authentic facts point to God’s truth; we must live by God’s truth and not mere facts…by faith and not by sight.

Relevance:

God delivers us from spiritual confusion when we believe Him instead of our circumstances. Facts are subject to misleading manipulation leading to greater sin, darkness, and bondage, but embracing God’s truth is freeing, liberating, clarifying, and life transforming!  

Lesson:

Again...Truth Must Override Facts as a Standard!

John 8:32, And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

God’s spiritual truth (His word and promises) supersedes temporary earthly facts (physical or biological realities or human observations). 

There are Plenty Examples of Truth Overriding Facts:

In Bible history, divine truth frequently superseded noticeable facts, whether temporary physical circumstances, biological limits, or antagonistic settings. When natural facts say one thing, God’s higher truth overrode them, demanding faith over mere human sight.

• Abraham and Sarah’s Aged Bodies (Romans 4:18–21; Genesis 17:15-17)
• The Bare Obvious Facts: Physically, Sarah’s womb and Abraham’s body were dead (as good as dead, being about 100 years old). Physically, their bodies were past the age of bearing children.
• The Greater Truth: God promised Abraham he would be the father of many nations. Abraham “against hope believed in hope,” considering not his own body now very old, but “staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief.” Abraham trusted God’s promise to make him the father of many nations, even when human prospects seemed entirely hopeless. God’s truth or promise they would have a son, a coming heir, superseded the biological fact of their infertility. He remained fully convinced that God had the power to fulfill what He promised.
• Peter Walking on the Water (Matthew 14:28–29)
• The Bare Obvious Facts: The physical law of gravity and the force of wind and waves mean a human body sinks in the Sea of Galilee. The physical facts were gravity and sinking waves!
• The Greater Truth: At Jesus’ invitational command (“Come”), Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the stormy sea. The physical fact of the storm only overwhelmed him when he looked away from Christ’s word, proving that divine command momentarily superseded natural physical laws. The truth and real power rested in Jesus’ command to come.
• Stepping Out in Faith but Only with Christ’s Directions. Peter asks Jesus to call him out onto the dangerous, stormy sea. By saying “Come,” Jesus gives Peter the authority and power to do the impossible.
• Leaving the Comfort Zone as an Expression of Trust. This passage represents taking a risk to be closer to Christ. The boat symbolizes safety and familiarity; walking on water symbolizes radical trust in Jesus’ command.
• The Power of Focusing on Christ is Paramount to Triumph! Peter can walk on water only as long as he keeps his eyes fixed entirely on Jesus. (While the verses immediately following show Peter looking at the wind, becoming afraid, and beginning to sink, verses 28–29 highlight the initial triumph of active, obedient faith). We dare not overlook this reality!
• The Three Hebrew Boys in the Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3:24–27)
• The Bare Obvious Facts: Fire burns human flesh, and Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace was heated seven times hotter than usual so that it killed the executioners.
• The Greater Truth: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted God’s preservation. The physical fact of the fire remained, but the higher spiritual truth of God’s presence meant “upon their bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed.”
• Earlier in the chapter, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue, stating that their God was able to save them, but even if He didn’t, they still wouldn’t worship the idol. Daniel 3:27 proves that God did deliver them utterly and completely, leaving pagan witnesses astonished and forcing the pagan king to praise the God of Israel. It highlights that when God saves or brings someone through a trial, He can do so so thoroughly that not even the “smell” or scars of the ordeal remain.—Bible Gateway
• The Shunammite Woman’s Dead Son (2 Kings 4:32–37)
• The Bare Obvious Facts: While working with his father in the fields, the boy complained of a severe head pain and died in his mother’s arms. The child was clinically dead, laid cold upon Elisha’s bed.
• The Greater Truth: The physical fact of death was reversed by the prophet’s actions and God’s power! Elisha arrived, prayed to God, and stretched himself out over the boy’s body twice until the child’s flesh grew warm. Operating on the spiritual reality that God is the author of life, Elisha caused the boy to sneeze and open his eyes then restored him alive again to his mother. Yes, beloved this resurrection is just one token of what the Creator can do through exploits of faith!
• The Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:3–5)
• The Bare Obvious Facts: The bones scattered across the valley were “very dry”—a final, irreversible physical state from a human perspective.
• The Greater Truth: When God asked Ezekiel, “Can these bones live?”, the prophet deferred to God’s omniscience (“O Lord God, thou knowest”). God then commanded Ezekiel to prophesy, saying, “O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord,” and life entered them, and “they stood upon their feet, an exceeding great army.” The truth of God’s powerful creative word superseded the dead, bleached fact of the bones.

·        Christ’s Raising Lazarus to Life (John 11)

Jesus Christ’s resurrection of Lazarus demonstrates His authority over life and death renders physical death a temporary boundary rather than a permanent reality. Yes, accordingly Lazarus was brought back to physical life by Jesus four days after he died and was placed in a tomb. 

·        The Death of Lazarus of Bethany, brother to Mary and Martha and a friend of Jesus, fell sick and died while Jesus was away. 

·        The Miracle unfolded when Jesus arrived four days after the burial, he went to the cave tomb, had the stone rolled away, and called out, “Lazarus, come forth.”

·        The Result literally entailed Lazarus coming out of the tomb still wrapped in his burial cloths, astonishing the crowd and leading many to believe in the Lord Jesus. Beloved, these are the observable bare face facts!

Carefully, note the significance of Lazarus being dead four days in the tomb. You see Lazarus was dead for four days, past the Jewish belief that the soul lingered for three days, making his death an undeniable physical fact.

Then specifically pay attention to the awesome power of our Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus called, “Lazarus, come forth,” the physical reality of decay and death yielded to divine command instantly.

Recall how Jesus described Himself earlier as “The Resurrection and the Life”! Jesus specified that anyone who believes in Him will live even if they die physically, shifting the focus from death as an absolute end to life in Christ (Jn. 11:23-27). Beloved, this is the "TRUTH" that frees you and me for the sins of doubt, skepticism, questions, worry, frustrations, and unbelief! 

Many More Passages Elevate God’s Words Over Obvious Facts that are Rooted in Mere Human Understanding!

Living by faith is trusting God, believing Him regardless of other otherwise reasonable inputs from even accomplished people. Humility is necessary for us all before a Mighty God and Creator! A humble posture is our rightful place and not the arrogance of dreaming up some new theory in a quest to be published! Trusting God’s promises and character instead of relying only on temporary, physical circumstances or human logic is needed by us all. God calls us to a life of faith and moves us past the mere limitations of physical sight.

• Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith provides a real foundation and proof for spiritual realities that physical eyes cannot detect.
• 2 Corinthians 4:18: “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
• Romans 1:17: “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Faith is not a one-time event, but the core posture of daily survival and spiritual life.
• Hebrews 11:6: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Several Essential Matters are Involved with Living by Faith!

• Looking Beyond Circumstances to the Reality of God! Refusing to let present hardships, fear, or worldly facts dictate your peace or obedience.
• Trusting the Word of God as a Standard! Relying on what God has declared as more certain than what physical evidence shows.
• Actively Resolving to Proceed! Moving forward through unclear paths with confidence in God’s hidden work and ultimate faithfulness.

Conclusion:

Jesus says, “the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Spiritual truth and alignment with God sovereign will free us from the bondage, captivity, confinement, and lifestyles of sinful enslavement. Beloved, our Lord promises spiritual liberation through faith.

Child of God, this notion is critical to our spiritual experience:

• Freedom from Sin: people who live in sin are slaves to it. Knowing and accepting the truth breaks that control.
• The Person of Jesus: Jesus defines himself as the “TRUTH”. Knowing the truth means having a ‘living faith’ in him.

Having a living faith in Jesus Christ provides inner peace, deeper personal purpose, and a supportive connection to God that helps overcome daily hardships.

Think Deeply About the Advantages of a ‘Living Faith’:

·        Rich Inner Peace is Realized. Trusting in Christ offers a stabilizing inner calm that helps reduce worry about the future.

·        Hope during Hard Times is a Present Truth to Embrace. A living trust provides the resilience needed to persevere through suffering, sickness, and difficult life circumstances.

·        Clear Life Purpose and Confidence for the Future. Walking closely with Jesus aligns our daily actions with meaningful values, helping us love and serve others more effectively.

·        Direct Access to God Deepening that vital Connection. Faith opens an ongoing relationship through prayer and spiritual guidance, offering constant support and a lifted burden of guilt or shame.

 

Yes, authentic facts should invariably point to God’s eternal truth; as the people of God, we must live by God’s truth and not merely the facts…by faith and not by sight.  

Applying Faith to Life

Applying Faith to Life

Hebrews 11:1; James 1:2-4; 2 Corinthians 5:7

 

Theme: Biblical faith applies to daily life turning confident trust in God into practical actions, purposeful choices, and steady peace during hard times.

Relevance: Faith enables us to turn ordinary moments into conscious acts of prayer, kindness, and trust; we can apply our faith in everyday life. Our faith was meant to be practical, functional, useful, and constructive!

Lesson:

         I.             Consider what we are Dealing with—Biblical Faith!

1. Confident trust: Faith is not a blind guess nor merely something we crave deeply; it is an assurance, confidence, or guarantee rooted in God’s character and promises as revealed in His Word (Hebrews 11:1).
2. Active response: True faith requires action, practice, application, integration, and moving past mere ideas to living out what God teaches before seeing the final outcomes.  

        II.         Apply Faith in Everyday Areas of your Existence

1. Stay Aware of your mindset and emotions: Shift focus from worry to prayer, replacing fear with courage and complaints with gratitude.
2. Cherish your relationships: Practice humility, show mercy to others, and rely on community rather than trying to walk through life completely alone.
3. Manage wisely personal finances and work: Make career and financial choices based on generosity, honesty, and divine guidance rather than pure self-reliance.
4. Build faith and character by handling your trials: Treat hardships and pain as opportunities to build patience, character, and deeper hope (James 1:2–4). Scripture refines our character in hard times.   

        III.     Make Faith a Practical Daily Habits 

         A. Read scripture: Read the Bible daily to learn what God says and to see the example of Jesus firsthand.

1.    2 Corinthians 5:7, For we walk by faith, not by sight.

2.   Hebrews 11:1, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

3.   Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

4.    Romans 10:17, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

     B.  Pray consistently: Use prayer as a continuous connection to God to acknowledge your dependence on Him.

1.    Prayer for Strength

                                             i.          Mark 11:24 — Tells us that whatever is desired in prayer will be received upon believing it is already received.

                                          ii.          Matthew 21:22 — Affirms that whatever is asked in prayer with belief will be received.

2.   Prayer for Wisdom and Guidance! Ask God for wisdom and guidance by praying honestly, reading scripture, and surrendering your own plans. Approaching God with a sincere and humble heart fulfills the biblical promise to receive generous answers.

                                             i.          Pray directly: Tell God you need Him and His help. You can use a simple prayer like, “Dear, Father God, I need and want You; please give me wisdom and show me the right path, your way, today. Grant me courage to pursue your will.”

                                          ii.          Read the Bible: Go to books like Proverbs for daily choices or Psalms for comfort and direction.

                                        iii.          Be humble: Admit that you do not know everything and are willing to listen to the Lord and those He leads you to.

                                         iv.          Listen in silence: Quiet your mind so you can recognize inner peace or direction. Wait with patience: trust that answers come in God’s timing, not yours. Remember God’s guidance will always agree with the Word and rival the devil, flesh, and the world.

     C.  Engage in church fellowship: Join with other believers to serve, share, and support each other through life’s ups and downs. Put your faith into action—active service is one way! Stay connected by joining that church, participating in holy worship, reflecting on God’s truth through preaching, and introducing others to the life of faith in the living God.

      D. Pursue Other Activities that Integrate Faith Daily

1.    Devotion: Start your morning with a few quiet minutes of prayer, meditation, or reading scripture to center your mind.

2.   Prayer: Talk to God throughout the day by sharing quick, spontaneous thoughts or worries as they happen.

3.   Gratitude: Practice gratitude by pausing to thank God for small blessings like a good parking spot, a meal, or pleasant weather. –Focus on the Family 

4.   Worry: Another example of faith in daily life is turning a moment of intense worry or anxiety into a quiet prayer for guidance. 

                                             i.          Prayer and Reflection: Starting each day by thanking God or pausing during a stressful moment at work to ask for peace and wisdom. 

                                          ii.          Acts of Kindness: Helping a neighbor, feeding someone who is hungry, or giving to charity because you believe it is what God calls you to do. 

                                        iii.          Forgiveness: Choosing to let go of an insult or showing grace to a difficult person instead of reacting with anger.—Family Christian

                                         iv.          Trusting Decisions: Making major life choices—like a career change or financial decision—by seeking God’s direction and turning more frequently to the Word instead of relying solely on your own anxiety or control. 

   E. Trust God for Daily Guidance as an Act of Faith!

1.    Proverbs 3:5-6 — Encourages us to trust the Lord completely rather than rely on our own understanding, acknowledging Him in all ways for direct guidance.

2.   Hebrews 11:6 — States that pleasing God requires faith and belief in His existence and His reward for those who seek Him.

3.   Lamentations 3:22-23 — Speaks of the Lord’s unfailing mercies and compassions that are renewed every morning, highlighting His great faithfulness.

         IV.       Abide in Christ using Your Faith

Abiding in Christ is maintaining a continuous, trusting connection to Jesus as the source of spiritual life, much like a branch stays attached to a vine (John 15:1-8).

     A.  Consider What It Means to Abide

1.    Rooted in Faith: Abiding begins by believing in Jesus for salvation and trusting His grace rather than relying solely on human effort.

2.   Actively Remaining: The Greek word for abide (meno) means to stay, dwell, or persist firmly in a relationship.

3.   Bearing Fruit: Natural spiritual results—like love, joy, and Christ-like character—flow from staying close to Him.—Desiring God.  

     B.  Follow Proven Practical Steps to Abide Daily

1.    Read and Meditate on Scripture: Let God’s words dwell inside your mind and shape your daily choices. We are supposed to think about the Bible’s teachings. This requires reading the text carefully, understanding its historical context, and applying its core principles to daily life. It is correct to view scripture as the supreme guide for determining truth and right behavior. Regular reading and reflection help build resilience, provide guidance, and shape personal character.

2.   Pray Continually; Treasure Time with the Lord: Talk to God honestly and turn Bible verses into conversational prayers.

3.   Obey His Commands from the Heart: Show your love for Christ by following His teachings and loving others.

4.   Rely on the Holy Spirit to be Fruitful: Trust the Spirit to work inside you, especially during difficult or dry seasons. 

         V.           Continue Deeper to Explore Further the Subject of Faith and the many Practical Applications! 

           A. Read about how faith transforms historical and biblical figures in tough situations. 

            B. Explore practical ways to integrate biblical habits into your daily routines.  

Conclusion: We can learn even more ways to build consistent habits of faith. Focus on living by faith each day! Remember, biblical faith becomes a daily experience as we purposely turn confident trust in God into practical actions, focused choices, and steady peace while enduring tough stints. By turning ordinary moments into conscious acts of prayer, kindness, and trust, we are applying our faith to everyday life.