DEVOTION BY Joyce McCullough POSTED 12/3/2024 6:00:01 AM
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
Hebrews 6:19 NIV
As children, my sister and I often took fishing excursions with our father. He loved to take his small boat to the nearby lake to fish for bass, bream, or crappie. He sometimes caught the undesirable catfish, but he loved the serenity of the lake and the ability to commune with nature—especially if we girls kept our code of silence.
One day, he failed to drop his anchor. My sister had become lost in her book, I daydreamed, and my father took a short snooze because the fish were not biting. But a loud thump made us realize we had drifted into a marshy, muddy inlet.
To extricate ourselves and Daddy’s boat, we had to use both oars and muster muscle power we didn’t know we had. When we returned home, we discovered our failure to use the anchor had caused our boat to be caked with mud and marred with scratches that would require much cleaning and repair work.
Charles Martin uses the anchor analogy in his book They Turned the World Upside Down. His purpose is to encourage readers to become more like Christ’s disciples, who devoted themselves to spreading the gospel after His death.
Society has drifted away from God like “a rudderless boat absent its anchor.” We find ourselves lost in muddy waters when we let go of that hope. Our lives can easily drift into dangerous places. We become mired, muddy, scratched, and full of sin. Unless our eyes remain focused on Jesus, our wanderings can cause us to lose the secure footing He provides.
If you have drifted away from God, ask Him to be your anchor so that He can remove the sin and scratches from your life.
Asheville Christian Writers Conference
Join us at the Billy Graham Conference Center February 24, 25 and 26, 2023 for the Asheville Christian Writers Conference at The Cove. Meet with editors, agents, top-selling authors, and attend workshops. Be inspired! Revive your soul! Reserve your spot now for the Asheville Christian Writers Conference February 24, 25 and 26, 2023. Space is limited!
Learn More
RISE FROM THE ASHES
Several years ago, Christian Devotions came under cyber attack. Thanks to our readers we were able to rise from the ashes and be stronger than ever. Founded in 2008, Christian Devotions Ministries is a 501C3, non-profit organization striving to bring the light of Christ to others one devotion at a time. Thanks to the generous donations of our readers, this ministry thrives. Because of these gifts, we are able to provide benevolence when needed, spread the Word of God to over 157 countries, and offer new writers an opportunity to have their words published. This ministry is overseen by a board of directors and all who offer their time in service of this work are volunteers. Thank you for your kind support. Donations are tax deductible. This ministry thrives on the prayers of our readers. If you would like to be a prayer warrior for Christian Devotions Ministries, email us at christiandevotionsministries@gmail.com and we will add you to our prayer letter. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. - Psalm 19:14
After teaching high school English for over thirty years, Joyce McCullough now spends her time writing children’s books. She also enjoys tutoring, teaching piano lessons, teaching Sunday school, and doing volunteer work. She has written for numerous faith-based publications including Alive, The Cumberland Presbyterian, The Missionary Messenger, and Focus on the Family’s Early Stages. She has received numerous awards and recognition both as a writer and as an educator. For more information, visit her website, The Literary Lyonesse, at joycemccullough.com.