A One Word Prayer That Brings Results

Who can resist the cry for “HELP” that this picture invokes? Right away we want to do whatever we can to reverse global warming so that the polar bear will have a platform of ice to sustain itself. Is God any less responsive to his children when they call out for help from their hearts?

The Bible is a library of 66 books. It offers commandments to obey, sins to avoid, examples to follow, principles to apply and promises to claim. I like the promises best of all. I have long believed that one of the best ways to maintain a healthy, positive attitude is to become more promise and less problem conscious. It seems to me that for every difficulty one may encounter, there is a promise, somewhere in the sacred scriptures, that is uniquely tailored to fit that situation.

One of my favorite promises is: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble … God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day” (Psalms 46:1 and 5). As I look back over nearly eight decades of physical existence, it seems that there is one prayer God has heard and answered; boiled down into one word that prayer is simply “HELP!” Perhaps the help did not come at just the time and in just the way I expected but there was a result that later I could see was the divine response to my prayer.

A long time ago, I read a prayer that I have partially forgotten. Part of it went something like this:

I asked for all things so I could enjoy life.
I was given life so I could enjoy all things.
I asked for power so I could do great things.
I was given weakness so God could do good things through me.
I asked for a charming personality so I could win favor with people.
I was given a humble attitude so that I might be a loyal friend.
I was given nothing I prayed for but everything I longed for.
I am of all people most blessed.

You can never predict what may come when you cry “help.” But be sure of this, there will be a response that may take years for you to discern as the answer to your prayer. God may say “no” or “wait and grow” to the literal meaning of our petitions. God has not promised to answer the words of our mouths but he has promised to fulfill the desires of our hearts.