-Drew Blackston


Where we live in the Tampa Bay Area we are surrounded by water on all sides. Anytime we are driving from one place to the next, there is a pretty good chance that you will have to use a bridge to go over some body of water. One of the most famous bridges in our area is called the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. If you’ve never seen it or driven over this massive icon, the Skyway Bridge is 430 feet tall and is the is considered the longest cable stayed concrete bridges in the world. For work, I have the opportunity to drive over the Skyway about once and week and I notice something every time I get to the top of the bridge: I lose cell phone service. Now I know this sounds weird because at 430 feet above the ground I should have perfect cell phone service, but something about the bridge and crossing Tampa Bay causes my phone to either lose all service or go down to only one bar. If I happen to be on the phone, hands free of course, when I start my ascent up the bridge, the person on the other end sounds like an old radio transmitter. I get bits and pieces of the conversation, but nothing more than that. It’s not until my car starts its decent on the other side of the bridge that I begin to hear what the other person is saying clearly again. Sometimes, I feel like our conversations with GOD are like my phone conversations crossing the Skyway Bridge. On my end, I am speaking clearly and I can hear myself, but on GOD’s end I’m only picking up bits and pieces. Like my cell phone with zero bars, I don’t know if GOD’s actually speaking because I can't hear anything through my receiver. I know that many Christians feel the same way and that is why I wanted to write this blog post in our “Back to Basics” series. I believe that GOD speaks to us in more ways than we know, but we aren’t tuned in to how He is speaking. Let’s look at 3 simple ways that GOD speaks directly to you and identify those moments so that you can be better prepared to hear the direction of our Creator.

1. Reading your Bible

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”
Psalms 119:105 NLT

GOD is always speaking to us. Maybe not verbally, but He is always speaking through His written word. In America, we have the amazing opportunity to have the Word of GOD, the Bible, at our fingertips whenever we want. Whether it's the physical book, online, or in the Bible App, the Bible is readily available at all times and in all places. Throughout the 66 books of the Bible, GOD is speaking in every one of them. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is filled with the wisdom, direction, and even humor of GOD. When we read the Bible, we are not just reading a book, but we are reading the actual words of GOD. Have you ever noticed that when a certain situation has come up in your life and you go to read the Bible, what you are going through seems to show up in the pages you are reading? I know that I have. That is GOD speaking directly to you through the pages of your Bible. Don’t discount the Word of GOD as just a good book to live by. Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of GOD is “living and active” and “it exposes our innermost thoughts and motives.” You could say the Bible is our cell phone to Heaven connecting us directly to GOD our Father. When you question whether or not you are hearing GOD, open up your Bible and see what His Word says about your specific situation. Your physical Bible has a concordance in the back and Bible apps give you the ability to search for anything you want. 

2. Through other people 

“Teach a wise man what is right and he’ll grow even wiser. Instruct the lovers of God and they’ll learn even more.” Proverbs 9:9 TPT

Many times GOD will use other people to speak directly to us. Whether it's a pastor's sermon, the counsel of a close friend, or even a strangers quick conversation, GOD oftentimes speaks through those around us. In my own life, I have seen where the words of my wife have been the wisdom of GOD in many different situations. In other situations, the words from a podcast or sermon have touched my life and spoken something directly to me. In one moment I might be stressing about bills or expenses and then GOD will bring me across a particular podcast where the preacher is urging listeners to remember the promises of GOD on provision and abundance. Instantly I realize that GOD is speaking to me through that podcast and reminding me of His promises over my life.  In the scripture referenced above, Solomon is urging an already wise man to listen and be taught so that he can become wiser. What is the secret to becoming wiser? Listen to wise people. How do we hear the voice of ultimate wisdom which is GOD the Father? Listen to the wisdom that He has put in other people. 

3. In your heart

“And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son.
Hebrews 1:2 NLT

The most common way that GOD speaks to you and to me is through the Holy Spirit Who lives on the inside of us. In order for us to hear the voice of GOD, we have to put ourselves into position to hear His voice clearly. If you read one of our recent posts, “How do I study the Bible (click here to read)” you’ll remember that one point to having good study time is to put away all distractions. The same is true for hearing the voice of GOD. When you have a conversation with someone, can you really hear them if you are constantly looking at your phone or watching TV? In the same way, how can we hear the voice of GOD if we are surrounding ourselves with distractions in our prayer time. There’s a difference between distracting ourselves and distractions around us. We can push through the distractions around us and focus solely on talking and listening to GOD, but it's much harder to hear GOD’s voice when we are the ones putting the distractions in place. A book that I highly recommend is “The GOD I never knew” by Pastor Robert Morris (click here to buy on Amazon) which dives deeper into recognizing and hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit. 

GOD is always speaking, the question is are we listening? Through His Word, other people, and the Holy Spirit, GOD is always giving us opportunities to hear His voice. 


Over the next several weeks and months, Anchor Movement is going to focus on a series called “Back to the Basics” where we answer and define what it actually means to be a Christian. We want to answer some of the questions that new and old believers have in their walk of faith. Some examples include, “How to study the Bible,” and “Why should I go to church.” If you have a question you’d like us to answer or explore on the blog, go to our connect page and leave your response or visit our Instagram page here and leave your response in the comments.  

-Drew Blackston

A few months ago I was having a discussion with a brand new Christian and she was asking me questions about the Bible and certain things she had been reading in the book of Matthew. After a little while the conversation turned to prayer and she asked a question that I had never heard before, “How do I pray?” I stood there thinking for a minute and finally just said, “It’s like having a conversation with a friend.” In all honesty, it was this very conversation that inspired me and Valerie to start the series, “Back to Basics” on the Anchor Movement Blog. As we began doing research, Google searches, and social media scanning, we noticed that many Christians don’t have a good understanding of the basics of Christianity. Often times, we noticed that people would quote something and say that it came from the Bible when in reality, it’s not anywhere in the Bible. My favorite: GOD helps those who help themselves. That’s actually a quote popularized by Benjamin Franklin written in Poor Richards Almanac in 1733. Basic knowledge of scripture and GOD’s character would underscore the fact that we can’t help ourselves at all. Jesus had to come, live a sinless life, die on a Roman cross, and be raised from the dead by GOD, so that He could give us eternal life. So, when my friend asked me the question, “How do I pray,” she illuminated the fact that many new believers in Jesus and even people who have been a Christian for a long time, might not know how to pray or feel uncomfortable praying. So, lets see what the Bible says and give some practical steps to help you begin have a conversation with GOD. 


1. Prayer is a conversation

Prayer is nothing more than a conversation with GOD. When you accept Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, the Bible tells us that through Jesus we can now come to the Father (Ephesians 2:18). That simply means we can have conversation  or fellowship with GOD anytime we want. GOD is not in some far off place or only at church, but GOD is with you every minute of every day. Whether you are in the shower or in the car, GOD is ready and willing to talk, sing, or even just listen to you. How do you talk to your family and friends? Do you text your friends with Thee’s and Thou’s? No. You just talk and it’s you, individual and unique, you. That is the same way you can talk to GOD. He’s doesn’t need any fancy language or special chants before you pray. GOD just wants to hear your voice and spend time with His child. Just like any good father would want to spend time with his children and hear them talk, GOD is the same way. 


2. Prayer can be verbal, written, or silent 
 
The most comment form of prayer is a verbal conversation with GOD, but that’s not the only form of prayer. Many of the writings in the Bible are prayers to GOD expressed through written word or song. When my friend asked, “How do I pray,” she wondered if she was doing it wrong because she expressed herself better through journaling and painting than actually sitting down and speaking out loud to GOD. My answer was, “Yes!” GOD gave each one of us unique ways that we can express ourselves and many of those talents can be used during prayer. For me, there have been times where the situation leaves me speechless and I don’t know what to say. Thankfully, GOD knew we would have those moments and in Romans 8:26 Paul writes:


“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.” Romans 8:26-27 NLT

GOD is speaking for us even when we are silent. Your prayers to GOD don’t need to be the same as everyone else. Sometimes we talk and oftentimes we are silent. It’s not in the action or way that GOD hears our prayers but it’s through our hearts. 

3. Prayer is constant 

One of the misconceptions about how to pray is that is has to be done in a certain place or at a certain time, but in reality prayer is constant dialogue with GOD. Prayer can be done on your way to school, getting ready for work, in the grocery store, watching your kids on the playground, or as I mentioned earlier, the shower. Some people have a prayer closet—I have a prayer shower. What I have noticed is that GOD is not concerned with the where or how I pray, but He’s more interested in the conversation. Our prayer time isn’t limited to minutes or hours, but its a continual dialogue as we go through our day. If you had the opportunity to spend the entire day with your best friend, odds are you would talk to them for most of that day. With GOD, we have that opportunity, but many times we give Him the silent treatment for most of the day. Philippians 4:6 in the New Living Translation says it like this:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”

Prayer doesn’t have to be an overly complicated experience between you and GOD. In its reality, prayer is simply communication between GOD and His children. Don’t let tradition or experience keep you from enjoying the fellowship that comes when GOD’s children seek Him through prayer. Just like any loving Father, He only wants a relationship.


Over the next several weeks and months, Anchor Movement is going to focus on a series called “Back to the Basics” where we answer and define what it actually means to be a Christian. We want to answer some of the questions that new and old believers have in their walk of faith. Some examples include, “How to study the Bible,” and “Why should I go to church.” If you have a question you’d like us to answer or explore on the blog, go to our connect page and leave your response or visit our Instagram page here and leave your response in the comments.  ​​

-Drew Blackston


I am a dad in a house full of women. Between Valerie, my 2 daughters, and Gracie our dog, there are 4 women to this one man. My youngest daughter, Brightyn is only 8 months so her days consist of nursing, learning to crawl, and sleeping, but my oldest daughter Brooklyn who just turned 3 loves to spend time with daddy. If I am in the room or in the house in any room, she is right next to me. Her favorite things to say to me is, “Daddy hold me” and “Daddy come play” or my favorite “Daddy dance with me.” Oftentimes when I am sitting on the couch trying to watch TV or read, she just wants to sit next to me and talk. She will tell me about her day, or her drawing, or the dogs, or anything that her mind can think of. She loves to talk to daddy, but she also listens. When I talk to her, she remembers what I said and will bring it up in later conversations especially when it comes to ice cream or going to Disney World. Even though Brooklyn is only 3, I cherish our times of conversations together and hold these very close to my heart. When I was thinking about Anchor Movements “Back to Basics” series and how I could easily explain ‘what is prayer’ I felt GOD was reminding me of my conversations with Brooklyn and the time we spend together just talking about whatever is on her mind. 


Many times, when we are new Christians, we wonder how to talk to GOD. As more mature or older Christians, we wonder sometimes if GOD is even listening especially when we are facing difficult situations or trials. I know that I have felt this way before and I’ve also felt intimidation when it comes to praying to GOD. Even the Wikipedia definition of prayer sounds daunting:


Prayer is an invocation or act that seeks to activate a rapport with an object of worship through deliberate communication. In the narrow sense, the term refers to an act of supplication or intercession directed towards a deity, or a deified ancestor. 


If you google “What is prayer,” over 768,000,000 search results are returned and within that number are countless other sub results which is why I wanted to write this blog post. Prayer shouldn’t be this complicated undertaking, but it should be a simple conversation with your Father GOD. Just like me conversations with Brooklyn, GOD just wants to talk and listen to His children. He wants to give advice, direction, and wisdom to His kids just like I want to give those things to my daughters. It’s not about routine or rituals, but it’s about a conversation. Conversations are two ways, talking and listening. If all I do is listen to Brooklyn talk, then she will never gleam any wisdom and if I never listen to her than why would she want to talk with me in the future? Prayer is a simple conversation between you and GOD. 2 Thessalonians 5:16-18 puts it like this:


‘Pray continually, Rejoice always, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ' 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV


In all circumstances, pray. Just like you talk to your spouse or loved ones throughout the day, talk to GOD the same way. He cares about every single part of your life and He wants to be able to give you wisdom and directions in all areas. I like to use a simple example when someone asks me about prayer: When we moved into our new home I needed to fix the gutters on the back lanai. As I was standing on the ladder drilling in the end caps my screw slipped and fell into the grass. I got off the ladder and started searching for my screw. Normally I would just grab another, but this screw fell right into a part of the yard where the dogs and kids play so I didn’t want anyone stepping on it. As I searched and searched, I couldn’t find it anywhere. In my frustration I asked GOD, “Where is this screw?” He answered, “Up and to the left.” Sure enough, when I looked up and to the left there the screw laid. God cared about me finding that screw and He knew exactly where it was. GOD wants to have those kind of conversations with you. Don’t let intimidation or religious culture keep you from having daily interactions with your Heavenly Father. Start today with a simple, “Hello” and see where it goes from there.


In our next two blog post, we are going to explore “How to pray” and “How do I hear GOD’s voice” and what the Bible says about the how to’s when it comes to praying. Until then, take the first steps today and just talk to GOD. He loves you and wants to listen and talk with you every day. If you’d like us to pray for you, your family, or something going on in your life, leave those requests in our comments section or click here to our connect page. 

Over the next several weeks and months, Anchor Movement is going to focus on a series called “Back to the Basics” where we answer and define what it actually means to be a Christian. We want to answer some of the questions that new and old believers have in their walk of faith. Some examples include, “How to study the Bible,” and “Why should I go to church.” If you have a question you’d like us to answer or explore on the blog, go to our connect page and leave your response or visit our Instagram page here and leave your response in the comments.  ​​

Valerie Blackston















“It’s the little things in life that make the biggest difference.” How many times have you heard that statement ? I think it holds true in many aspects of life but especially now that I’m a stay at home Mom. I’ve learned consistency on a regular basis with the little things make a world of difference. 

​Upon arrival of our second daughter, I realized some things were going to be changing -and my firstborn may or may not adjust well to some of those changes. My biggest concern was nap time! It may seem trivial to some but all the parents out there know nap time is essential to “survival” on the day to day. Am I right ?!
​
This pic was from the first day home alone with my babies after Drew went back to work. I got both kids to nap at the same time 🤗😅 I cried. (I give partial credit to the pregnancy hormones butttt)  I thought about how good God has been to me- not just in the big highlights of life but on the day to day. Now, I know this may not happen every day, but I felt like this was a little love sent down to encourage this mama.

​Sometimes our problems, decisions, life events, etc  seem too small for such a big God. This couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s all the little things in our life that are the stepping stones to the bigger picture and destiny we’ve been called to and He cares about them!

It may feel weird asking God to help you out when it seems like such a little thing or even funny talking to Him about a basic task. Not going to lie, when I was praying about nap time, I thought, “okay there’s bigger problems out there like world hunger, but if You can help us out here, I’d be forever grateful God!” Thankfully we don’t have to bargain with GOD to care about our lives, He’s always waiting to help, lead, guide, and direct our paths. Matthew 6:25-33 says “ Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they?”.  Basically, we learn that if God is spending time making sure the birds are getting what they need, then why wouldn’t He take care of our needs and concerns as well? 
​
I say, bother God with the little things. He wants to be a part of the day to day aspects of our lives. The more we are in communication with Him, the more we build our relationship and can understand the direction the Holy Spirit is leading us.  Some “little things” you can do are spend quiet time daily with God (reading the Bible, listening to praise and worship/podcasts, praying etc) and speak to Him about life happenings (big or small).

We live in a generation where we are searching for the next big thing, the next step, the next life altering experience, or the next big rush! But it’s the little things that lead us to that next BIG thing and He wants to be on that journey with you.