OPINION —
Help is a fascinating word. To help someone is to provide assistance or support, to lighten another’s load. It can be a noun as in “Thank you for your help.” It can be a verb as in “I am here to help you.”
I remember vividly the day my wife’s mother called me aside to share her concern for her daughter. Sarah explained to me that Dean was exhausted trying to take care of our four little boys. Then she said, “You have got to get Dean some help!” Her request was more of a demand, so I got busy and hired a woman to help Dean five days a week. Families with small children need help!
Doctors write prescriptions for medicine that will help their patients.
Physical exercise helps our bodies remain healthy. Counselors help their clients by inspiring them to refrain from attitudes that destroy relationships and to enjoy the benefit of not worrying about things they cannot control.
Teachers help students to obtain an education so they can become useful citizens and use their gifts to make a difference in the world. They know that education is the pathway out of poverty. Lawyers help people acquire justice in the courtroom. Firemen and policemen are ready to help people with whatever needs arise in their community.
People can offer a helping hand to others in need of assistance. A person who says, “Can I lend you a hand?” is usually welcomed with a smile. Everyone needs the help of others, from time to time, during this journey we call life. And everyone needs the spiritual help that only God can provide.
In Psalm 12, David offers a short, two-word prayer: “Help, Lord.” David was disturbed that there were so few people around who were faithful to God. So he cried out to the Lord for help. Charles Spurgeon described David’s two words as “direct, clear and distinctive,” unlike some of our rambling prayers. “The psalmist,” Spurgeon said, “runs straight to God. He knows what he wants and where to get it. Lord, teach us to pray like this.”
The first two verses of Psalm 12 help us understand why David was praying for the Lord’s help: “Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth! Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts” (The New Living Translation).
Whatever our need, the holy scriptures remind us that God is ready to help us when we cry for His help. I love what God said to the prophet Isaiah: “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you” (Isaiah 41:13).
My friend Stephen Seamands shared a good way to ask for the Lord’s help.
He said, “For many years, before a speaking engagement, I prayed a simple prayer, ‘Lord, help me.’ But one day I felt led to change the prayer to this, ‘Lord, help yourself to me.’” He was inviting the Lord to take him, and use him, in any way that would be helpful to his audience. I have followed Stephen’s example, often praying, “Lord, help yourself to me.”
God has many wonderful names that help us celebrate our heavenly Father’s attributes and character. Some of my favorites are: El Shaddai – “God Almighty”; Jehovah-Rapha — “The Lord Who Heals”; Jehovah-Shalom — “The Lord Is Peace”; Jehovah Jireh — “The Lord Will Provide”; Jehovah Rohi — “The Lord Is My Shepherd”; and Abba — “Father” or “Daddy.”
Jesus has many names that touch my heart: The Prince of Peace, the Way, Emmanuel, King of Kings, The Good Shepherd, the Lamb of God, Lord of Lords, the Messiah, the Bread of Life, the Savior, the Redeemer, the Deliverer, the Lord of Glory and the Word of God. We can turn to the Lord in prayer, using any of these names, and He will hear and answer our prayers.
There are not many different names for the Holy Spirit. In the Bible the Holy Spirit is usually called “the Comforter” or “the Advocate.” I love the way the New American Standard Bible and the English Standard Version, translate the word Jesus used to describe the Holy Spirit in John 14:26: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
There it is — the Holy Spirit is the Helper! When we need God’s help, we can turn to The Helper, confident that He will hear and answer our cries for help. He loves to hear us cry, “Help, Lord!”
Glory!
