Need Help Today?

I have this man in my life. He has guided, taught, prayed for, and loved me well. He is a spiritual man who loves the Lord. I am so grateful for my Daddy. His life has influenced me in unbelievable ways. He walks the talk.

Perhaps you do not have an earthly father who has been good to you. I can't imagine, but I know it hurts. So, for this week only, you can borrow my daddy. :) He recently spoke at his home church, Berea Baptist, in a small NC town. I begged him for the notes. I hope they encourage you as much as it did me. See his message below and know that behind every good man is an excellent wife, so I introduce my Godly heritage and prayer warriors, Warren and Bette Rice, to you.

His Title: Need Any Help?

His Introduction: "Before David Livingstone went to Africa as a missionary, he, along with his father and sister, read Psalm 121 and prayed together. Once David was in Africa, Livingstone's mother-in-law said whenever she thought of him on the mission field, she would read Psalm 121." *

"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore." Psalm 121 (ESV)

God is our Helper. (Psalms 121:1-2)

God is our helper. Psalm 121 verse one reads I will lift up my eyes to the hills. The word hills represents the hills of Jerusalem, where they believed God dwelled. Where does my help come from? This question is answered in verse two. "My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." All of us need help at some point in life. Why not look to the one who made it all? - Including you and me.

God is our Keeper. (Psalm 121: 3-4)

God is our keeper. He will not let our foot be moved. He will not let our foot slip. He who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps you will not doze off. Behold He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

A child's prayer comes to mind. "Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my soul to keep . . . " ** God is awake. He's got you. He is your keeper. You can go to sleep. You can rest knowing that He is your keeper day and night.

God is our Protector. (Psalm 121:5-6)

God is our protector. (Psalm 121: 5-6) The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The right hand is the place of honor and power. In Hebrew, the word for 'hand' is the open hand, as if one has invited the Lord to take that place beside them. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. No sunstruck or moonstruck here. You have round-the-clock protection. In her book, The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boon talks of a tense time in Holland during the German invasion. One night, she tossed restlessly in her bed while warplanes dropped their bombs. Unable to sleep, she heard her sister in the kitchen. She went down for a cup of tea. They talked until the night was still. Returning to her room, she reached out to pat her pillow before lying down. Suddenly, she felt a jagged piece of metal ten inches long. She raced back down to the kitchen, and as Betsie bandaged her hand, Corrie said, "If I hadn't heard you in the kitchen . . . " Later, through the trying times in a Nazi prison, Miss Ten Boon was to learn over and over that God's will was her hiding place. Friend, do you know that God is your hiding place? ***

God is our Preserver. (Psalm 121:7-8)

God is our preserver. (Psalm 121:7-8) "He will keep your life is rendered." He will preserve your soul in the New King James Bible. Actually, the Hebrew word "sha-mar" can be translated as "Guard," "Protect," or "Preserve." I believe that's the meaning here. Ultimately, He will preserve the believer in Jesus from this time forth and evermore." Jesus said it this way, "Everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die." (John 11:26) He then asked this very important question, "Do you believe this?" I pray you do and look to Him as your Helper, Keeper, Protector, and Preserver.

Amen and Amen!

From one Female to another, I love my Daddy. I hope his words have encouraged you today. I know it did me, for he points me to our Heavenly Father. If you are missing an earthly father, if you have never had a Godly male to influence you, be reminded today that you have a Heavenly Father who loves you deeply. And in the words of my earthly Daddy, your Heavenly Father is your helper, keeper, protector, and preserver.

Footnotes:

* David, Christopher Poshin, The Pilgrim's Prayer, YouVersion

** Belief Archives: PurposefulFatih.https://www.purposefulfaith.com/tag

*** C.R. Hambree, 15000 Illustrations by Dr Paul Lee Tan