by Derek Murphy

“Help, Lord” —Psalm 12:1

The first two words of Psalm 12 perhaps encapsulate the simplest prayer we can take to God. A request for help. Sometimes I don’t even know how to ask for help, but these simple words should encourage us this morning to ask. Our cries for help, do not fall on deaf ears with God.

What do you need help with today?

Ask God to come into your need right now. Psalm 46 says that God is our “ever present help in our time of need”

Don’t hold back, God wants to hear you and meet you in your need. How do I know?

It’s written throughout almost every page of the Bible. Every character in scripture has come to the end of themselves and realized they need God to help them.

One example is Elijah. In 1 Kings 19, Elijah finds himself overwhelmed and weary, fleeing from threats on his life. In his moment of despair, he cries out to the Lord, saying, “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” (1 Kings 19:4, NIV) We can all agree, this is a cry for help, even though he doesn’t implicitly ask for it. God does not abandon Elijah. Instead, He provides sustenance, guidance, and ultimately, renewal of purpose. Through Elijah’s story, we are reminded that even in our lowest moments, God stands ready to lift us up and carry us through.

Write out your prayer for help today.

If you doubt that God wants to help you in this, be reminded every time you look up to the mountains today, that God is as sure as those cliffs and is ready to meet you.

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore. —Psalm 121:1-8 (NIV)