Your Anchor
But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” Acts 23:11
Have you ever started out on a project in life? Something that you were very excited about, a mission that you were sure the Lord was calling you to. Then when it started taking longer than you thought or it became harder than you anticipated, you change your thinking to say, “I guess that wasn’t God’s will” or “My heart just isn’t in it anymore.” This is not an uncommon thing. Many people have given up on their dreams and even assignments from God because the steps of faith required became difficult and so much different than they had originally thought it was going to go.
In today’s reading, the apostle Paul had many reasons to doubt if he was doing the right things or if he was actually following the direction that the Holy Spirit had led him to. He was now imprisoned and there were many people on the outside wanting to silence him for good. I’m sure he had questions like “why is this happening to me?” and “All I am trying to do is help people know God. Why is it so hard?” He had every opportunity to be afraid and confused, but then he got a word from God. At night, when things got quiet, the Lord stood by him and told him to cheer up because just as he had testified in Jerusalem, he would also do at Rome. This was an encouragement because now Paul had a word from God to anchor his faith to. He had gotten words from Him in the past like on the Damascus Road and when he had the dream to go to Macedonia. Paul used these dreams and visitations as a reminder when things got uncomfortable that he knew he was on the right path even though it was rough.
In the book of 2nd Peter chapter one, it is written that we today have a “more sure” word than the actual audible words that the disciples had when they walked with Jesus on the earth. The reason is because it is written down for us to remember and re-read often. God’s word in the scripture is our anchor and He will lead us to a specific passage each time we ask for an anchor in the storms we face in life. God’s Spirit will often remind you of a passage or even give a soft reminder for you to take hold of when you ask Him in times of trouble. This is why I often stress the importance of writing down the words that come up from your heart when you are earnestly seeking His guidance and comfort. Whether it is looking for a new job or concern for a lost loved one, you can receive God’s comfort right in the middle of it all simply by getting alone with Him and asking what He has to say about the situation. He may remind you of a verse you have recently read or lead you to a new scripture. He may even give you a “knowing” in your heart that you can ask Him to back up with a scripture and He will lead you there. I cannot really explain how it all happens, but I know that it does. It is simply a step of faith to listen and then believe that you now have an anchor, steadfast and sure! That word from Him will be sealed in your heart with His peace! That is when you will know without a doubt that you have heard from Him because God’s word and presence always brings peace right in the middle of what you are going through.
Today I want to encourage you in whatever you are wrestling with. Whatever is coming against you in life. Don’t run away and hide and don’t automatically assume you are on the wrong path. Unknown times will always come but you can have a “more sure” word to cling to when they do. Get alone with Him today and ask Him what He says about the situations and listen intently to what you hear in your heart. Shut down the voice of fear and doubt in your thinking and determine that you will get God’s word on the matter. When He gives you the word that brings peace, write it down immediately and keep it in a place that you can remember to thank Him for that promise every day until you see it come to pass. You don’t have to wonder if you made a wrong decision of if you are doing the right things, you can know in your heart by listening to God’s word and following His peace today and every day.
Today’s scripture reading: Acts 23:11-22
11 But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”
12 And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
13 Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy.
14 They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul.
15 Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”
16 So when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.
17 Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.”
18 So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.”
19 Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside, and asked privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”
20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more fully about him.
21 But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.”
22 So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”
The Daily Dose 