In Isaiah 33:23 the prophet says these words: Your tackle is loosed, they could not strengthen their mast; they could not spread the sail. 

I used to live in Portsmouth and from time to time the port would host tall sailing ships from around the world.  What a  sight it was to watch these majestic vessels sail into view, with their tall masts and huge white sails billowing out to harness the wind. This is what was eye-catching. But consider this: neither the mast nor the sails would have been effective were it not for the tackle.  This, by nautical definition is ‘a system of ropes and blocks for raising and lowering weights of rigging and pulleys’ and it is through this that tension is applied so that the force of the wind can be transferred to the ship in order to propel it forward. Without that tension, the masts would be unstable against the elements and the sails wouldn’t be able to do their job.

So where am going with this?  Follow me now as I seek to apply a little ‘sanctified imagination’ to the illustration.  The main mast is the central focus of the ship and represents to me the Lord Jesus who we should seek to make the very centre of our lives.  He is our stability and strength and only when we place Him in this central position is He able to guide and direct our lives.  The sails, attached to the mast, speak to me of our faith.  When these are spread out, the wind (illustrative of the Holy Spirit) will propel us forward, so that we are able to progress in our Christian walk.  Yet the effectiveness of both the mast and the sails is all down to the tackle! If it is hanging loose the ship isn’t going anywhere – except maybe to the bottom of the sea!

The tackle, in Christian terms, could be likened therefore to our hidden walk with the Lord – our relationship with Him which is developed through meeting with Him in prayer, through our worship and through feeding upon His Word. To go back to our key text from Isaiah it is easy to see that if this aspect of our lives is ‘hanging loose’ it cannot keep the sails spread out nor keep the mast firm in its place.

The Fit For Life Forever programme is all about making Jesus the Lord of our appetite and then walking by faith so that the Holy Spirit is able to empower our lives and enable us to overcome. If you have ‘set sail’ on this journey, see it as an adventure. There will be obstacles to tackle and storms to ride, but with Jesus at the centre and the wind of His Spirit in your sails, you have nothing to fear. Simply ensure that your tackle is intact and you will see God working powerfully on your behalf.