The Encouraging Word: 2/23/2006

Faith is not just Trying Harder!

Are you discouraged by so-called self-help advice? Maybe you’re like me and think: “It was my best effort that got me into this mess in the first place! I don’t need self-help, I need a miracle!”

When my boys, Micah and Morgan, were little, they escaped Mom’s watchful eye one cold winter day. They rode their sled down the hill in front of our house. But Morgan, the youngest, stepped off the toboggan and sank up to his armpits in a deep powder drift and was trapped there. After a heroic rescue he was retelling the story of escape.

Mom asked: “What did you do
“I jus’ prayed,” he chattered, “O God he’p me out of da’ snow!”
“Well, did He?” Mom asked.
“No – Micah did!”

God uses all means to answer our cries for help – but answer he does. Would you be willing to ask God for the daily and eternal rescue that God promises to those who give up on self-help? Maybe Peter expressed it best when he was going under the stormy sea: “Lord save me!” (Matt. 14:30)

This is Mike Neely with the Encouraging Word!

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