In today’s devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef reveals the anchor that will hold us through all life’s storms.
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[00:00:00] You are listening to My Devotional, the daily devotional from Dr. Michael Youssef and Leading The Way.
[00:00:08] Stability for Every Storm by Dr. Michael Youssef
[00:00:14] The nuclear aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower has four and a half acres of flight deck,
[00:00:21] a displacement of 95,000 tons and can launch 60 aircraft.
[00:00:28] It has not one but two anchors, each weighing 60,000 pounds and each with a chain that's 1,082 feet long.
[00:00:40] Each link of the anchor chain weighs 365 pounds.
[00:00:46] The Eisenhower is built for stability.
[00:00:50] It's designed to give a smooth ride even in rough and stormy seas.
[00:00:54] A warship that must launch its aircraft at a moment's notice cannot be tossed about by the elements.
[00:01:01] It must be stable, a stable platform under any conditions and the Eisenhower meets that daunting requirement.
[00:01:10] Stability. We all want to live stable, predictable lives without having to deal with nasty surprises.
[00:01:16] Unfortunately this fallen world does not afford much stability.
[00:01:20] Circumstances change, obstacles arise, opposition invades our lives.
[00:01:26] When troubles come, when the seas of life turn rough and stormy, our stability as believers is tested.
[00:01:33] Will we be tossed about by the storms or will we remain stable, firm and anchored in the Lord Jesus?
[00:01:41] In a real sense, the Thessalonian church was like a ship being tossed on a raging ocean.
[00:01:46] These believers needed an anchor to keep them from being tossed about by the turbulence of shifting opinions in the storms of life.
[00:01:54] They faced pounding waves of persecution. They faced storm billows of false teaching.
[00:02:00] So Paul told them he was praying for them, especially for their spiritual stability.
[00:02:05] He was praying that they would stand firm on the teachings he had delivered to them.
[00:02:10] Paul's prayer was not merely for one local congregation in one coastal city in northern Greece.
[00:02:17] His prayer extends to all believers in all places, in all times who face the destabilizing forces of trials, persecutions and false teachers.
[00:02:28] Above all, he prayed for those who would have to face the Antichrist, who would experience the end times upheaval when all hell breaks loose.
[00:02:37] In that time of lawlessness, anarchy, terror and unrestrained evil, believers will need supernatural strength and God-given stability in order to stand firm.
[00:02:50] Paul reminds all believers of the anchor that holds as strong and secure as the 60,000 pound anchor of a nuclear aircraft carrier.
[00:03:00] He reminds us of the bedrock of truth that keeps us firmly in place.
[00:03:06] He reminds us of the unshakable hope and encouragement we have in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
[00:03:15] Let's pray together. Jesus, You are our rock, our salvation.
[00:03:21] We will trust in You as our anchor in the storm.
[00:03:25] Thank You for the gospel on which we stand firm forever. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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