"Powerful people harass me without cause, but my heart trembles only at your word."

Psalms 119:161 NLT

When I read the above verse, I questioned myself, "When was the last time I trembled at the Word of God?

We live in scary times, and our world seems to be getting worse by the day. The news is filled with tragedy, hate, and evil. It's easy to become frightened during times of uncertainty. Still, David confidently proclaims that even though he is harassed, he isn't afraid, and does not tremble at their threats.

David only trembles at the Word of God.

How powerful is that? He faced dangerous situations without fear. Instead, he turns to the Word, finds his strength there and trusts his God.

I desire for the Word to change me and stir me up as it did for David. Do you desire for the Word to consume you? To drive you farther into the supernatural? If yes, then dive in!

The bible is a book of love, mercy and hope. God is waiting for you to jump in today and start a new journey of discovery, and a time of drawing nearer to Him.

Devotion by Caitlin Walker

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

Anchors are particularly important equipment on any ship, and the crew probably inspects them daily to make sure that they are always ready when they need them. Are they rigidly attached to the ship, and is the cable strong?

I live alone, and I recently obtained a Lifeline. No matter where I am, if I need assistance, pushing a button connects me to someone who can get me the help I need. If I should fall, someone is alerted. But it is of no value to me if I do not charge it daily and wear it all the time.

We have a strong and reliable anchor in the Lord Jesus Christ. But it is important that we daily check to make sure that the connection is secure.

Prayer: I Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing."

Thanksgiving: I Thessalonians 5:18 "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Word of God: Psalm 119:11 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."

Fellowship: Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

Serving: Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

Keeping the line of communication open to the Lord is essential even when everything seems to be going well in our lives. Checking the connection every day will ensure that when troubles come, we can just whisper the Name of Jesus, and He will be there. Our anchor will hold no matter how stormy the sea.

Thought For Today: "It is safely moored, 'twill the storm withstand, For 'tis well secured by the Savior's hand; And the cables passed from His heart to mine, Can defy the blast, through strength divine."

Devotion by: Anne Johnston

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." II Corinthians 5:17

The anchor can also be an indication of a new beginning or a starting point for a life journey. In the early days of Christianity, when the Romans persecuted followers of Jesus, the anchor became a secret symbol to represent Christ. It showed that their lives had changed direction. and they were committed to their faith.

We can all think of ourselves as ships, sailing on the sea of life. At some point in our journey, we hear the Gospel message. We are faced with a decision, whether to sail on as we have been, or to change direction. When we realize how Jesus loves us, we repent of our sin and accept His forgiveness. We turn our ships around, drop anchor, and wait for His instructions.

We begin to search the scriptures, pray for the Lord's guidance, and listen to His voice each day. We learn how to know when to move and when to just stay still, for He has promised to show us the way.

Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God."

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Isaiah 30:21 "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."

John 10:27-28 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

He has a plan for each one of our lives, and whether today's journey consists of calm or stormy seas, we have no fear, for He pilots our ship. The anchor is there when we need it, and it will never fail.

Thought For Today: Is Jesus your hope and anchor as you sail life's sea today?

Devotion by: Anne Johnston

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof." Psalm 46:1-3

Earlier this week, we looked at the story of Paul on his journey to Rome. After battling the stormy seas for days, the ship finally found a place where they could use the anchors to hold the ship steady through the night. As we anchor in the Lord Jesus Christ, we receive the strength and resistance that we need to face life's challenges.

In Luke 21:25-38, Jesus shares with His disciples some signs of the future.

"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

As we listen to the news each day, we can see this scripture being fulfilled. Wars, earthquakes, fires, floods, and other upheavals are happening in our world. Fear fills the hearts of people, wondering what will happen next.

Facing these events, we need not fear because we have a strong anchor in Jesus. He is in complete control. Steadfast and secure, we rest in His promises.

Matthew 24:13 "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."

Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."

Hebrews 13:5 "for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

Thought for Today: Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Devotion by: Anne Johnston

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

A physical anchor prevents a ship from drifting. It provides a sense of security when in troubled waters. So, spiritually, the anchor represents emotional security, inner stability, and calm in uncertain times.

I have been reading the book of Job in my morning devotions. He probably faced more storms in a brief period than any other person who has ever lived. His wife taunted him for his faith, and his friends accused him of all sorts of wrongdoing. Sitting in the ash heap, using a piece of broken pottery to scrape the boils that covered his body, he questioned everything that he had ever believed. He bewailed the fact that he had ever been born, and at one point, he asked the Lord to just take his life. But he had an anchor that held secure. And he maintained his trust in God.

Job 13:15-16 "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him."

Storms will come in every life. There will be times of discouragement, sickness, trials, and difficulties. We do not know what tomorrow holds. But we do have an anchor in the Lord Jesus Christ that keeps us steadfast and secure even in those times. The Lord did not promise we would not have storms, but He did promise to always be with us. Anchored in His love, we can face whatever life brings.

Rom 8:38-39 "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Thought For Today: "Will your anchor hold in the storms of life, when the clouds unfold their wings of strife?"

Devotion by: Anne Johnston

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." Psalm 42:11

An anchor represents our steadfast hope in the promises of God. We come to the Lord in faith believing that His love for us will never fail, and that we can trust Him to guide us in every aspect of our lives.

Under the old covenant, to enter the most Holy place would mean death. Only the High Priest could enter once a year, bearing the sacrifice for the sins of the people. Tied around his ankle was a rope, so that if he should die while inside, they could remove him without endangering anyone else.

As Jesus drew His final breath on Calvary's cross, something supernatural occurred in the temple in Jerusalem. The veil, that thick curtain which barred the way into the Holy of Holies, tore in two from the top to the bottom. Jesus' death opened the way for all to enter. We can now come boldly into the very presence of Almighty God, for he hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5

"That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil." Hebrews 6:18-19

Paul was a fitting example of one firmly anchored in Christ. No matter what persecution and trials he faced, he said, "For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." II Timothy 1:12

Our hope is sure because it is anchored in the Rock of Ages. The cable is strong and will not break even in the worst storms of life. We rest secure in His love, living one day at a time, waiting for the day when our ship will sail into eternity, forever to be in the presence of our Lord.

Thought For Today: "My soul is firmly anchored in the Rock of Ages. Though angry waves may roll, I am secure and fearing not,"

Devotion by: Anne Johnston

"Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern and wished for the day." Acts 27:29

For fourteen days, the wind and crashing waves had bombarded the ship. They cast everything they could spare overboard. Fear filled their hearts. It looked like all hope was gone. But one man among the two hundred and seventy-six aboard had a promise that he would reach Rome. In the night, God appeared to Paul with a message:

Verse 23-26 "For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island."

That night, realizing they were nearing land, they put down four anchors to hold the ship steady until daylight came. As the crew tried to escape in the lifeboat, Paul warned them that only those who stayed with the ship would survive. As day dawned, they saw a way they could reach land, so they raised the anchors and steered for shore. Even though the ship broke apart, everyone on board made it safely.

Storms will come. Winds of difficulty will rise. Waves of life will sometimes overwhelm us. But when we submit our lives to Jesus Christ, we have an anchor that keeps us steadfast. We have His promise to never leave nor forsake us. He will always keep His promises.

Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."

During the time of Roman persecution, early Christians used the anchor as a symbol to represent their faith, because it resembles a cross.

What do the four anchors mentioned in the above verses represent? Join me for the next few days as we look at what they could mean to us as followers of Jesus.

Thought For Today: "In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil."

Devotion by: Anne Johnston

"That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil." Hebrews 6:18-19

When our children were young, and finances were low, we spent time together doing simple things. On Saturdays, we would go for drives in the country, exploring unfamiliar roads, and just enjoying being together. One of our favourite places to end up was Iroquois on the St. Lawrence River. It was interesting to watch as a large ship would enter the locks, the gates would close, and the water would slowly rise. Then the gates on the other end would open so the ship could leave to continue its journey.

Often, there would be other ships in the river a short distance away. They were at anchor, waiting patiently for their turn to go through the locks. Their anchors held them securely in place until it was their turn.

When I was praying and asking the Lord for direction for this week's devotions, the word "anchor" kept coming into my mind. Words of songs we used to sing about Jesus being our anchor started flowing through my mind:

"My soul is firmly anchored in the Rock of Ages."

"Will your anchor hold in the storm of life?"

"I've anchored in Jesus, the storms of life I'll brave."

"The anchor holds in the midst of the storm."

"Be very sure. Your anchor holds and grips the solid rock."

"In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil."

An anchor provides security for a ship. The anchor symbolizes our steadfast hope in the promises of Jesus and the assurance of salvation. Through all the storms and difficulties of life, Jesus is our strong anchor.

Join me this week as we look further into what an "anchor" signifies. May we realize anew just how important it is for us to be "anchored in Jesus."

Thought For Today: We need not fear what life holds when Jesus is our anchor.

Devotion by: Anne Johnston

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, you must not show favoritism… (James 2:1-4, 9 NIV)

These scriptures really hit home for me. I think if we are honest, we can admit that we have either shown favoritism by judging someone based on how they look or act.

This passage doesn't just describe the early church, but it describes us. Even with the best intentions, we can easily fall into the trap of favoritism or quiet judgment. I never want my actions or attitudes to make someone feel unworthy of love or grace. Jesus never made anyone feel "less than." He made everyone feel seen, valued, and accepted.

The Bible is very clear; it teaches that showing favoritism is a sin… God's Word leaves no gray area - favoritism is not a flaw in character, it is a fracture in love.

My constant prayer is this: "Lord, help me to love the way You love." Every person, no matter how they treat me, is deeply loved by God. If I don't reach them with His love, they may never reach Heaven.

Mother Teresa said, "If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

Earl Nightingale said, "When you judge others, you do not define them - you define yourself."

When we sense judgment creeping into our hearts, it's an opportunity to pause and ask ourselves…

1. What do my eyes perceive? Instead of seeing a person made in the image of God, maybe you see their sin, their lifestyle, or their religion. Pray that God would help you see their soul in eternity, just as He does.

2. What does God see? If you look at that person through the lens of God Almighty, you will see someone He died for and loves unconditionally.

3. Who am I to judge someone else? "Galatians 6:1 encourages us to restore people who have fallen down spiritually. We need to pray God would trust us enough to restore a soul.

The next time a guest walks in to your church, instead of going up to your close friend to catch up, maybe take some time to get to know the stranger in your midst. Yes, they may seem standoffish, but wouldn't you be quiet if you were in a new place? Just think about how brave they are to go to a place where they do not know anyone. Your indifference to their appearance, your warm smile, and your genuine, Christ-like love can make an eternal impact on their soul. Love is reaching beyond comfort zones and familiar circles. One act of kindness can change the trajectory of a soul.

Let's strive to have a heart of love. Today, you can make a difference in someone's life.

"But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10 (KJV)

Job's words, "I shall come forth as gold," were spoken from the depths of unimaginable pain. He was enduring the trial of his life. It felt as though the blessings and favor of God had been stripped away forever.

Job was in anguish. His heart grieved the loss of his children. His body ached with sickness and sores. And, in the very moment when he needed comfort most, his wife and friends betrayed him with their words. He was grieving, in pain, and alone.

He KnowS The Way That I Take

And the more he cried out to God, the more distant God seemed, or so it appeared. Yet even in his silence, Job clung to a truth that anchored his soul:

"But He knoweth the way that I take."

Job understood that even when he couldn't feel God, God still knew every step of his journey. Though everything around him had been shaken, Job's faith held steady because he believed God was refining him - not rejecting him.

Gold is not found shining and pure; it must be refined by fire. The heat draws out the impurities until what remains is strong, radiant, and valuable. That is what God was doing in Job's life - and it's what He is doing in yours.

God knows exactly what you're walking through and why. He sees the tears you've cried in secret. He feels the weight that seems too heavy to carry. And He promises: "When I'm done refining you, you will come forth as gold."

God is not finished with you… not now, and not ever.

You are in the process of perfection. One day, you'll look back and see how the fire did not destroy you, but purified you into a priceless, golden vessel of His glory.