Hope, an anchor of the soul

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
1,664
577
113
#21
At times this negative dialogue tries to raise its ugly head again, from time to time. so I’m trying to determine if that’s because Holy Spirit is still has work in me that he needs to do and if there are intentional things I can to cultivate my heart making it easier for Holy Spirit to impart the Hope of Christ deeper into my soul.

FollowingtheWay,-------you have an enemy loose ---Satan has access to every person's mind still ---that includes Born Again Christians -------Depression is not from God ---it comes us meditating on the cares of this world ---it comes from losing touch with your Faith in God ------Satan ia always after your true Faith ------your fighting a war -----and you need to put on God's armour to win the battle ------

Once you are Born Again the mature stage starts ----you need to grow in your Faith walk with Christ -----

You need to meditated and get how to keep Satan from attacking your mind ------sowing doubt --fear ---anxiety --anger ----etc -----that brings your soul to experience depression which breeds no hope ---Satan wants to take your hope and he does that by attacking your mind ----sowing doubt ---Do I pray enough --do I have enough faith -----this sets up depression to come in ------your hope is fading --Satan is gaining it ----

You win or loose the Battle in your mind ------when your mind is depressed your body feels it ------the fight is for your soul -----every minute of every day -----




God says this ---James 4:7

Amplified Bible
So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.


Ephesians 6:16-18 AMP B

16 Above all, lift up the [protective] [a]shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

18 With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all [b]God’s people.
 
F

FollowingtheWay

Guest
#22
FollowingtheWay,-------you have an enemy loose ---Satan has access to every person's mind still ---that includes Born Again Christians -------Depression is not from God ---it comes us meditating on the cares of this world ---it comes from losing touch with your Faith in God ------Satan ia always after your true Faith ------your fighting a war -----and you need to put on God's armour to win the battle ------

Once you are Born Again the mature stage starts ----you need to grow in your Faith walk with Christ -----

You need to meditated and get how to keep Satan from attacking your mind ------sowing doubt --fear ---anxiety --anger ----etc -----that brings your soul to experience depression which breeds no hope ---Satan wants to take your hope and he does that by attacking your mind ----sowing doubt ---Do I pray enough --do I have enough faith -----this sets up depression to come in ------your hope is fading --Satan is gaining it ----

You win or loose the Battle in your mind ------when your mind is depressed your body feels it ------the fight is for your soul -----every minute of every day -----




God says this ---James 4:7

Amplified Bible
So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.


Ephesians 6:16-18 AMP B

16 Above all, lift up the [protective] [a]shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

18 With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all [b]God’s people.
I’m very aware of the battle for my mind and am engaged there. but I’m also aware there are cracks in my armor I’m trying to address.
 

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
1,664
577
113
#23
FollowingtheWay said --------- that’s because Holy Spirit is still has work in me that he needs to do and if there are intentional things I can to cultivate my heart making it easier for Holy Spirit to impart the Hope of Christ deeper into my soul.

The Holy Spirit can give you the strength to mature in your Faith walk -----but there are things that you have to master yourself as well -----it takes practice and work to resist the devil's attacks in your soul ------

The scripture says __RESIST the devil -----so that is your job to practice casting down all thoughts that go against God's word -----God says my Grace is sufficient and in your weakness of your soul --God Grace is your strength ----Satan has God's permission to harass all people in their minds until Jesus comes and wins the battle for good -----
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,355
6,641
113
#24
Please be aware that you have helped me among others with your posts. I believe you are going to be just fine, just fine.
 

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
1,664
577
113
#25
I’m very aware of the battle for my mind and am engaged there. but I’m also aware there are cracks in my armor I’m trying to address.
Well good -----being aware is a start ------you need to now shore up the cracks in your shield so you can keep Satan out ------ and then you with practice will be able to keep all the negative out of your thought life cause you will have learned what you need to do ------

Here is the thing -----Read many times the Parable of the Sower -----as that shows you that your faith has to be grounded and rooted in Christ so it doesn't fail when the storms come -----Satan cannot knock your faith down when he attacks your mind ----


Ephesians 3:17-18

New International Version

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,

 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
13,749
5,553
113
#26
To me as I’m reading through the New Testament a common theme is Hope. Is this something we intentionally cultivate in our lives or does it come naturally through faith? What are you personally doing to cultivate hope in your life practically ? How do you define hope in the life of a Christian? How is this concrete and accessible in your personal daily lives?

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬


“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬
think of the core message of the gospel

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭

This truth is the seed of hope for every living thing because every living thing is going to die we are mortal , this promise of salvation from death and eternal life is the source of hope for any and every mortal bieng

One could hope for money but they will die and the money can’t help me coupd hope for urging in this world and it will perish but one promise actually offers hope to those trapped in death a promise of life is the only promise that truly gives hope to the dying the gospel itself is true Hope imparted by God meant to become the faith of those who hear and believe his promise in the gospel of life beyond death

Hearing and believing the promise of life creates hope of life and without it hope for life can’t exist particularly when quoting single verses to consider the context helps the applicable understanding of what’s being said what I mean is this section is specifically about the promise that cjrost would come as a new and eternal high priest this hope is an anchor for believers

“For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 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; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6:13-14, 17-20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

But generally the message of the gospel is itself the creation of Hope because of what it promises “ eternal life “ to a world full of people speeding unavoidably towards death but there’s Gods promise that if we believe the gospel we are going to be spared and saved from impending death

gods promise of Jesus and the fulfillment in the gospel is God planting Hope in the hearts of all believers
 
F

FollowingtheWay

Guest
#27
Please be aware that you have helped me among others with your posts. I believe you are going to be just fine, just fine.

Thank you for your kind words and reassurance brother I appreciate that.
 
F

FollowingtheWay

Guest
#28
FollowingtheWay said --------- that’s because Holy Spirit is still has work in me that he needs to do and if there are intentional things I can to cultivate my heart making it easier for Holy Spirit to impart the Hope of Christ deeper into my soul.

The Holy Spirit can give you the strength to mature in your Faith walk -----but there are things that you have to master yourself as well -----it takes practice and work to resist the devil's attacks in your soul ------

The scripture says __RESIST the devil -----so that is your job to practice casting down all thoughts that go against God's word -----God says my Grace is sufficient and in your weakness of your soul --God Grace is your strength ----Satan has God's permission to harass all people in their minds until Jesus comes and wins the battle for good -----
And I’m working on that. It’s just overwhelming at what tries to get in some some days and weeks and from every conceivable angle sometimes , watching the evil one use multiple people on any given day to be his pawns even, I watched him use peoples words to shoot fiery darts at the same time using internet to place a temptation. Then another temptation coming from a different person. I’ve observed multiple front coordinated attacks on my mind as the temptations come I’ve seen the enemy use this blitzkrieg on me several times which is where normally something gets through weather it be lust, rage or a negative internal thought It’s rarely ever one singular attack the enemy loves to poke at every corner prodding every area he can find looking for a weakness. I’ve especially watched this happen with a lust problem I struggle with as well that might come in right behind and try to back door it’s way in through the negative thoughts that I just minutes ago warded off through warfare prayer . It’s a brutal war.
evidently Spending 32 years in darkness and all of a sudden being able to push back tends to anger a lot of the spiritual forces of evil and foul spirits that had held me captive. Every time one of these negative thoughts comes through I very intentionally pray warfare prayer Against this stuff as much as I can muster but it’s a hard fought battle and to be truthful at times my hope does wane, never fully extinguished of course because I jump right back into the fight but I tend to lose sight of the Hope through the smoke and intensity of the battle waging. I get beat up pretty bad spiritually and emotionally at times. 🤕 🦴 so my question comes in at how can I see that Hope shine brighter to see it more visibly through the smoke of the battle?
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,355
6,641
113
#29
And I’m working on that. It’s just overwhelming at what tries to get in some some days and weeks and from every conceivable angle sometimes , watching the evil one use multiple people on any given day to be his pawns even, I watched him use peoples words to shoot fiery darts at the same time using internet to place a temptation. Then another temptation coming from a different person. I’ve observed multiple front coordinated attacks on my mind as the temptations come I’ve seen the enemy use this blitzkrieg on me several times which is where normally something gets through weather it be lust, rage or a negative internal thought It’s rarely ever one singular attack the enemy loves to poke at every corner prodding every area he can find looking for a weakness. I’ve especially watched this happen with a lust problem I struggle with as well that might come in right behind and try to back door it’s way in through the negative thoughts that I just minutes ago warded off through warfare prayer . It’s a brutal war.
evidently Spending 32 years in darkness and all of a sudden being able to push back tends to anger a lot of the spiritual forces of evil and foul spirits that had held me captive. Every time one of these negative thoughts comes through I very intentionally pray warfare prayer Against this stuff as much as I can muster but it’s a hard fought battle and to be truthful at times my hope does wane, never fully extinguished of course because I jump right back into the fight but I tend to lose sight of the Hope through the smoke and intensity of the battle waging. I get beat up pretty bad spiritually and emotionally at times. 🤕 🦴 so my question comes in at how can I see that Hope shine brighter to see it more visibly through the smoke of the battle?
Thank you for sharing this. Please keep us all in your prayers to actually be right in the fight.
 

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
1,664
577
113
#30
I very intentionally pray warfare prayer Against this stuff as much as I can muster but it’s a hard fought battle and to be truthful at times my hope does wane, never fully extinguished of course because I jump right back into the fight but I tend to lose sight of the Hope through the smoke and intensity of the battle waging. I get beat up pretty bad spiritually and emotionally at times. 🤕 🦴 so my question comes in at how can I see that Hope shine brighter to see it more visibly through the smoke of the battle?
I say ---
So my question to you is what are you doing yourself to keep the gate closed to Satan attacks on your mind -???----cause it seems your just allowing the enemy in to attack you ----you say you know all about the spiritual war of the mind but it doesn't seem like your to interested in taking charge and keeping your mind focused on God's Hope -------

Your hope will only shine brighter when you defeat your enemy who keeps crushing your hope ------it is in your ball field to execute the victory over your harassment from the enemy -----Satan't is Harassing you ----in my view

It seems to me that you don't know who your are in Christ and what was accomplished for you ---you have a powerful resource and you don't seems to be interested in using it ----

Your Enemy is already defeated --Jesus accomplished that ---- God is telling you what to do to keep your mind on Him ----God makes it clear that the devil will flee from you if you do as He says ---so do it execute it ----it is a fight that goes on for your lifetime ----but God's Grace is there for you in your weakness ----your praying a warfare prayer but it isn't working obviously ----so call on God Grace

this is what God said to Paul ----

1691954251977.jpeg

I say -------If you want to pray ----pray for a hedge of protection ---

I am sure many saved people don't know they have the right pray for this -----God had a hedge of protection around Job ----and we can pray for protection ------God's Grace provided Protection ---Your Faith Receives it ----

The Hebrew word for Hedge --
Strong's Concordance
suk: to hedge or fence up or about
i.e. Shut in (for formation, protection or restraint) -- fence, (make an) hedge (up).

What is a hedge of protection?
https://www.gotquestions.org/hedge-of-protection.html

In the first chapter of Job, God points out to Satan that Job is "blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil" (Job 1:8). Satan replies, "Does Job fear God for nothing?...Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has?" (verses 9–10). It is common for Christians to adapt this verse and pray a "hedge of protection" around a friend or family member, but few people understand the original inspiration behind the phrase.

In the time of the Old Testament, wild animals were much more prevalent in the Middle East than they are today. The Bible mentions lions (Judges 14:5), wolves (Jeremiah 5:6), bears (1 Samuel 17:34), leopards (Hosea 13:7), and hyenas (Isaiah 13:22). Although stone walls could keep predators away from living areas and livestock, the walls would have to be very tall and would take a long time to make. Wood was not plentiful enough to waste on a fence. Instead, a hedge of thorn bushes could be induced to grow around a living compound. Thorn bushes would be too dense to crawl through, too sharp to chew through, and too deep for all but the most determined leopard to jump over. A hedge would also be a deterrent to sheep and goats seeking to escape their pen. As Satan is compared to a "lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8), a thorn hedge is an appropriate metaphor for the protection God gives His followers.

Is it wrong to ask God for a hedge of protection around yourself or someone else? Absolutely not. In addition to putting on the armor God gives us (Ephesians 6:13-17), there is nothing wrong with asking for God’s protection. As seen with Job, a hedge is an apt illustration for what God’s protection looks like
 
F

FollowingtheWay

Guest
#31
I say ---
So my question to you is what are you doing yourself to keep the gate closed to Satan attacks on your mind -???----cause it seems your just allowing the enemy in to attack you ----you say you know all about the spiritual war of the mind but it doesn't seem like your to interested in taking charge and keeping your mind focused on God's Hope -------

Your hope will only shine brighter when you defeat your enemy who keeps crushing your hope ------it is in your ball field to execute the victory over your harassment from the enemy -----Satan't is Harassing you ----in my view

It seems to me that you don't know who your are in Christ and what was accomplished for you ---you have a powerful resource and you don't seems to be interested in using it ----

Your Enemy is already defeated --Jesus accomplished that ---- God is telling you what to do to keep your mind on Him ----God makes it clear that the devil will flee from you if you do as He says ---so do it execute it ----it is a fight that goes on for your lifetime ----but God's Grace is there for you in your weakness ----your praying a warfare prayer but it isn't working obviously ----so call on God Grace

this is what God said to Paul ----

View attachment 254728

I say -------If you want to pray ----pray for a hedge of protection ---

I am sure many saved people don't know they have the right pray for this -----God had a hedge of protection around Job ----and we can pray for protection ------God's Grace provided Protection ---Your Faith Receives it ----

The Hebrew word for Hedge --
Strong's Concordance
suk: to hedge or fence up or about
i.e. Shut in (for formation, protection or restraint) -- fence, (make an) hedge (up).

What is a hedge of protection?
https://www.gotquestions.org/hedge-of-protection.html

In the first chapter of Job, God points out to Satan that Job is "blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil" (Job 1:8). Satan replies, "Does Job fear God for nothing?...Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has?" (verses 9–10). It is common for Christians to adapt this verse and pray a "hedge of protection" around a friend or family member, but few people understand the original inspiration behind the phrase.

In the time of the Old Testament, wild animals were much more prevalent in the Middle East than they are today. The Bible mentions lions (Judges 14:5), wolves (Jeremiah 5:6), bears (1 Samuel 17:34), leopards (Hosea 13:7), and hyenas (Isaiah 13:22). Although stone walls could keep predators away from living areas and livestock, the walls would have to be very tall and would take a long time to make. Wood was not plentiful enough to waste on a fence. Instead, a hedge of thorn bushes could be induced to grow around a living compound. Thorn bushes would be too dense to crawl through, too sharp to chew through, and too deep for all but the most determined leopard to jump over. A hedge would also be a deterrent to sheep and goats seeking to escape their pen. As Satan is compared to a "lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8), a thorn hedge is an appropriate metaphor for the protection God gives His followers.

Is it wrong to ask God for a hedge of protection around yourself or someone else? Absolutely not. In addition to putting on the armor God gives us (Ephesians 6:13-17), there is nothing wrong with asking for God’s protection. As seen with Job, a hedge is an apt illustration for what God’s protection looks like

If you say so, I will reflect upon what you have said not that I necessarily agree with your broad stroke statements about my internal life. I know Satan is indeed harassing me, he’s angry because he used to have free rein in my life as he was a non category back then and Jesus took me away from Satans grasp. I know who I am in Christ thank you and am learning those truths deeper and deeper every day. I have gone into the deep water of my soul choosing to believe who I am in Christ rejecting the lies and not just agreeing to a surface level mental assent to truth but in the depths of my soul allowing truth to penetrate beyond bone and marrow, that hasn’t fully penetrated yet but I’m under construction . Warfare prayer is the same thing as asking God for that hedge of protection but it’s also acknowledging God calls us forth to battle from victory. I’m also very aware of the darkness that still plagues this world and the battle that still rages and our place in that battle as his apprentices . Jesus won the war but he has charged us to fight the battles which is the reason he gives us very real armor and weapons to wield in the spiritual realm that aren’t metaphor . The saints of ancient knew the enemy was best resisted at the door. I’m not perfected by any means in spiritual warfare , im an unfinished and dynamically broken individual and this world still tries to drag me back to the life I once lived in darkness but God is greater and through him I am resisting. God isn’t done with me yet .
 

ThyKingdomComeSoon

Well-known member
Apr 1, 2023
974
594
93
#33
I’m very aware of the battle for my mind and am engaged there. but I’m also aware there are cracks in my armor I’m trying to address.
please friend in Christ see the wise words below of James the brother of Christ, I feel the same way but this helpes me;

Jas 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
Jas 1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Jas 1:4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Jas 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

just need time and perseverance.

Be blessed
 

Sipsey

Well-known member
Sep 27, 2018
1,418
679
113
#34
That’s why I’m here asking cause I personally struggle with this. No one ever stops and asks me for a reason for my hope, should I be concerned that my hope isn’t evident to others because of their silence? So I’m a genuine mind here wanting to cross check and examine myself.
Sometimes, you must intrude, however gently, when the Spirit nudges. It may be a wink, a nod, a hug, or a brief story with a message. Sometimes their question can be answered before it is asked.
 
Aug 8, 2023
288
96
28
#35
To me as I’m reading through the New Testament a common theme is Hope. Is this something we intentionally cultivate in our lives or does it come naturally through faith?..
As a Christian you're on the winning side, so just relax and chill out.
It's only nonchristians who haven't a hope of getting through the pearlies, so it's THEM who should be worried..:)

rel-Heaven gates.jpg