ARE YOU FACING CHALLENGES AND IN NEED OF HELP AND HOPE?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God.
(Psalm 146:5)

MEDITATION:
Every person has some basic needs.
Two of those are:
    – Help in a time of need.
    – Hope for good things.

As long as things are going well, or difficulties are within our own capabilities
of coping with, then we don’t necessarily think about our need for help. But,
when we are faced with something overwhelming, or a pending decision that
we are unsure about, then we realize our need for help.

But think about this:
    If help is available and we choose to utilize it all the time,
    wouldn’t our life be less stressful and more peaceful?
If that’s true, then why don’t we seek help all the time? More than
likely it is due to our desire to be self-sufficient and “in control”, right?

But that’s not what God wants of those who belong to Him. He wants
us to depend on Him and seek His help; He doesn’t want us to be
independent of Him and become self-sufficient, He wants us to have
a dependence on Him.

We are the same with our children aren’t we? Rather than watch
them struggle with anything, we want them to ask for our help.
Why? Because we usually know an easier way for them to do things.
Doesn’t it just make sense to ask God to show us an easier way?

Hope is the other area of importance for God’s people. When we think
about the brevity of our lifespan, we need hope for life after death. Jesus
followed God’s plan and went to the cross to provide us this hope.

Also, whenever we are dealing with stressful situations, major sickness,
or hurting from moments of extreme sadness or depression, we need a
hope that things will improve, and we can get through our trials. God
fills this need for those who belong to Him.

But the unlimited benefits of help and hope that flow from Heaven’s
storehouse are contingent upon our relationship to God. Absolute
dependency and a complete yielding to Him are the conditions of
being His child. Only His children are entitled to receive those things
that create happiness. To be His child, we must surrender our will to
His Will.

ACTION:
Is your source of help and hope in the Lord, or do you seek them
in all the wrong places. Are you a child of God? Have you yielded
to His Will, or, are you still doing what you want to do?
    “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in
      trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give
      way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though
      its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their
      surging.”
      (Psalm 46:1-3)

If you haven’t made a trip to His altar and asked Him into your life,
don’t you think it’s about time for you to do that? If you don’t believe
the Bible, then you can assume that when you die, it is over, and you
return to the elements of the earth.

But what if the scriptures are true? That means that if you do not
personally know the Lord, then your problems on earth will pale in
comparison to an eternity of suffering in pain, and being separated
from the Lord.

In addition to the horrible physical pain of the fire, there is the pain
of seeing the paradise that you could be enjoying had you not refused
to yield your life to the Lord.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise of help
and hope for those who belong to You. Forgive me if I
have allowed my selfish independence to prevent me if
from seeking Your will and Your help in my times of need.
More importantly, convict me if I am not a child of Yours.
Pierce my heart and show me what I must do to become a
child of Yours. I am truly sorry for my sins and believe that
Jesus went to the cross to secure my forgiveness. I also believe
that three days later He arose from the grave and is now with
You in Heaven. Forgive me of my sins and save me so that I
will be a part of Your family for now and throughout eternity.
After I receive Your salvation, help me to yield my will to Your
Will and show me how to use the spiritual gifts You give me to
be a part of Your earthy ministry team. I love You and I thank
You for loving me.”

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