We Have An Anchor
“Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.”
Recently, there is a growing interest and desire amongst younger generations for traditional hymns in the church. Hymns are deep, theologically rich, and powerful expressions of truth that remind us of God’s faithfulness. They also connect us with previous generations who remained faithful to the Lord, anchoring us in the shared testimony of His enduring grace.
One hymn that comes to mind as I reflect on this devotion is “We have an Anchor” written by Priscilla J. Owens in 1882. Here is the first verse and chorus:
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift or firm remain?
And the chorus declares a beautiful truth:
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love
Every ship has an anchor which is used to provide stability so that it can remain grounded in one place in the middle of the ocean. Without it, the ship would be carried away by waves, winds, or currents. But when the anchor is set, even in the midst of a storm or rough waters, there is assurance. The ship will not drift or move.
In the same way, we have a truth that acts an anchor for our lives. It keeps us from drifting through the waves and storms we face. What is that truth? It is what the psalmist says, the Lord reigns. God is on the throne and He is in control of all things.
The psalm we reflect upon this morning reminds us that worship is not meant to stay contained or quiet, it is meant to overflow. The psalmist begins by repeating the phrase, “sing to the Lord,” where worship is emphasized as continual, not occasional. It should not be limited to a Sunday service but it should be expressed day after day.
Worship isn’t just singing or following words, it is declaring. In the psalm, we find that worship is proclaiming His salvation and declaring His glory amongst the nations. Witness and worship are inseparable. When we truly recognize God’s greatness and holiness, our natural response is to speak and sing of Him.
Through worship, we praise His power as our Creator.
Through worship, we praise His faithfulness as our Lord and Savior.
Through worship, we praise His authority as the King of kings.
Our God is not like the idols of this world which we created by humans and ultimately leave us empty. But God is the One who created the heavens and the earth, and He alone fills us with what is complete and everlasting. He is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise.
The anchor that the psalmist declares is that “the Lord reigns.” This is a present reality, not just something to hope for in the future. Even when life feels chaotic or uncertain, God is not absent but reigning with sovereign grace. Then one day, God will return and come again to judge the world with righteousness and truth. His creation responds with joy and anticipates the return of the King.
Application: This morning, let this psalm settle into our hearts. Let us make worship a daily rhythm, not something confined to a specific day or place. Let us begin each day by acknowledging who God is and praising Him. Let us worship Him openly, sharing His goodness with those around us or those we meet this week. Let us worship Him solely, removing the idols that compete for our hearts and attention. When anxiety rises, let us return to this truth, our Anchor remains and is faithful.
The Lord reigns and He created this world. He is in control of all things. In every storm, may we not drift any longer but remain anchored, firm and secure in Him.
