Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Help When Helpless" Monday, 14 April 2014 - Read 2 Corinthians 12:5 On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses. 6 For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me, or hears from me. 7 By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively. 8 Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.
The psalmist wrote, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains —
where does my help come from?”--Psalm 121:1 (NIV)
The large advertising poster outside the church showed me that the address I had prepared would not fit this occasion. I had mistakenly believed that I was to speak at a women’s rally. Instead, I now saw that my audience would consist of representatives from churches around the district. I went into the church feeling numb with desperation. What am I going to say to these good people when my turn comes to address them? I hadn’t a clue and still didn’t know even while sitting beside the pulpit, ready to be introduced as speaker. Help me, Lord! I pleaded. Then into my mind came clear direction: Imaginatively present Gospel stories as you do with your group. In our women’s Bible study group when looking at the Gospels, we enter into the story and become part of it. For example, when we study the passage about the Wedding at Cana, we “attend” the wedding. This way of looking at the Gospels is not new. It was practiced by St. Ignatius of Loyola. I stood up, all fear gone, and took the congregation on several imaginary journeys into Gospel scenes. They were totally focused on my presentation and listened with rapt attention. I had once more discovered that God helps us when we admit our helplessness.
The Author: Dorothy O’Neill (South Australia, Australia)
Thought for the Day: God is our greatest resource.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to turn to you at all times, especially when we see that we can do nothing to help ourselves. Amen.
Prayer focus: Lay preachers
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