NO OTHER HELP I KNOW...

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 142 (NRSV)
Prayer for deliverance

With my voice I cry to the Lord;
with my voice I make supplication to the Lord.
I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.
When my spirit is faint,
you know my way.

In the path where I walk
they have hidden a trap for me.
Look on my right hand and see -
there is no one who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
no one cares for me.

I cry to you, O Lord;
I say, "You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living."
Give heed to my cry,
for I am brought very low.

Save me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me.
Bring me out of prison,
so that I may give thanks to your name.
The righteous will surround me,
for you will deal bountifully with me.

DEVOTION

Today, we have had a series of tornado and thunderstorm warnings in the community where I live. As my family sat huddled together in the basement, I was praying in my spirit. Although there were great storms raging outside of my house, they did not touch us. Our basement refuge was a fortress against the wind and rain and a womb of safety and security, full of our love!

God is our place of safety when the storms of life buffet us. Today’s psalmist said, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living…”

All too often, we allow the storms of life to batter us because we are too proud—or stupid—to take refuge in God. We know that God is big enough, bad enough, strong enough, and loving enough to vanquish any foe, but we hesitate to allow God to protect us when we need God most.

I have never understood myself (or others) when, in the time of trial and tribulation, I don’t consider God’s aid until I have tried everything else.

Human beings are so self sufficient and God made us this way! But, we ought not to be afraid to say, “Father I stretch my hand to Thee, no other help I know,” when we are in trouble.

God is always with us, watching over us, and protecting us. God has never—and will never—leave us alone. In times of trouble, when we request God’s assistance, we are only acknowledging what is already The Truth—God loves, gave, and saves!

God loves us so much that God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life.

Sin was the biggest, baddest, scariest, most horrifying evil we will ever face and God vanquished it with Love and the Blood of the Lamb.

Since God did that, we can rest assured that God is able to help us with all of our other trials, tribulations, hardships, pains, and enemies!

Aren’t you glad you can count on God to have your back no matter what the difficulty? I know I am!

Will you ask God to help you today?

Dear God, I am sorry that I have been too proud to ask for help in the past. I know that was a poor choice. I am asking for your help today. Will you please protect me from dangers seen and unseen? Will you please shepherd me through the valley of the shadow of death? Will you please give provision in all the places where I lack and will you please insert Your Love where there is hatred and strife in my relationships? I need you so very much; I humble myself today and acknowledge that I need you more than I need my next breath of air! I love you and I know that you love me. Please help me to share that love with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you would like to put all of your hope in Jesus today, please visit my blog entitled, “Putting All Your Hope In Jesus” located at
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/putting-all-your-hope-in-jesus.html

If you have additional questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus"
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html

Pastor Yolanda is now publishing another blog entitled, “A Spoken WORD” in celebration of Holy Hip Hop, Gospel/Christian Rap and Spoken Word. Please check it out @ http://aspokenword.blogspot.com/

You are invited to follow Pastor Yolanda on Twitter www.twitter.com/PastorYolanda

Good News has now added a Prayer Ministry. http://www.kindlejoy.com/groups/goodnews

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From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com