GOD’S HELPER ENDS SELF-EFFORT

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper that He may abide with you forever.”—John 14:16

 

Control is a delusion that many people face every day.  Their decision to control every aspect of their life leaves little room for the Lord to work.  God loves us and He wants us to do what we can, but not to the exclusion of ruling Him out.  He longs to help us; otherwise, He would not have said that He would send the Holy Spirit as our Helper and Comforter. 

 

I read a story about a man who thought that he could do anything and had complete control of everything.  As a young man, he built his first home complete with masonry, plumbing, carpentry, and electrical work.  And as he progressed through life he had different jobs that he handled with ease.  Even in later years, when his wife became ill and her health deteriorated he took over the responsibility of the housework, and cooking, etc.  He said that he thought that he could handle the additional responsibility with ease.  His breaking point came when his wife could no longer be cared for at home and she had to be placed into a nursing home.  He lost control of everything and became physically ill.  Finally his doctor referred him to a therapist who suggested to him that he, “take it one day at a time.”    Although he and his wife had attended church regularly, it wasn’t until he began to ponder Matthew 6:34 that a difference began to dawn in his heart.  “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”  He remembered a song that he and his wife sang as teenagers, “Come into My Heart, Lord Jesus.”  Each night before he went to sleep he would repeat the words to the song and ask Jesus to help him.  It wasn’t long before he realized that Jesus was helping him, and that He had been their in his heart all these years, but that he had never asked for His help.

 

Today I encourage you to ask the Lord for His help.  He longs to undergird you and make your burden lighter.  He wants you to know that you do not have to do every thing yourself.  He is here to help you, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).  Allow Him to do what He has promised that He would—just call out to Him.

 

Prayer—Heavenly Father I thank You that You care for me.  Today I am choosing to lean upon You and not what I can do by my self-efforts.  Come into my heart, Lord Jesus to stay and help me along the way, in Jesus Name.  Amen.