November 4th
God, Please Abide With Me
There are many statements by which some live that are completely FALSE. Take this one, for example. "The Lord helps those to help themselves". This is not what the Bible says.
In fact, the Bible says that the "Lord helps those who admit their helplessness." The words recorded in 2 Chr 20:12 go like this:
"O OUR GOD...WE HAVE NO MIGHT AGAINST THIS GREAT COMPANY THAT COMES AGAINST US, NEITHER DO WE KNOW WHAT TO DO, BUT OUR EYES ARE UPON YOU."What is recorded is...like..."We don't know what to do. So we look to you for help." The song writer put it "Help of the helpless, O abide with me." Do you know who wrote ABIDE WITH ME and how it came about? Let me tell you.
It was composed one Sunday evening in 1847 by the Rev. Henry F. Lyte. It seemed that a deep sadness had settled upon him. He, according to the story, had just returned from his last communion service at his pastorate of 24 years at Brixham, England.
A fatal illness had attacked him and he was preparing to leave England and go to a warmer climate. Toward evening he walked down his garden path to the seaside and there thought out the words of his famous hymn. Later he worked together the words from his sense of helplessness that he felt (that anyone would) and his trustful dependence upon Jesus. He is the "help of the helpless".
He returned to his home, wrote out the hymn - later perfected the words and gave to the Christian world a great, tender prayer-hymn. After that he left for the south of France. He arrived at his niece's home and soon after died with his whispering words, "Peace! Joy!" as he pointed his finger toward upward.
Some of the words are, "Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O LORD ABIDE WITH ME."
My point is that phrase - "help of the helpless, O abide with me" must be our latching on to the power!! Again, the Lord does NOT help those who help themselves. He helps those who admit their helplessness. His power is available. In fact, He puts it this way, "He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength."
Let's pray!
Lord, we cry out for aid. We say, "Abba Father...HELP". Thank you that there is power to those who have enough guts to admit that they are helpless, in the name of Jesus.
Amen