A Very Present Help

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31



                                "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
                                                                         Psalm  46:1

     Which is harder: to do or to endure?
     I think to endure is much harder, and our Father loves us too much to let us pass through life without learning to endure.  So I want you to welcome the difficult little things, the tiny pricks and ruffles that are sure to come almost every day.  For they give you a chance to say 'No" to yourself, an by doing so you will become strong not only to do but also to endure.
     I know that each one of you is in need of continual help if you are continually to conquer.  I have splendid words to give you; they are from the first verse of psalm 46:  "A very present help."
     Our loving Lord is not just present, but nearer than thought can imagine - so near that a whisper can reach Him.  You know the story of the man who had a quick temper and had not time to go away and pray for help.  His habit was to send up a little telegraph prayer.  "Thy sweetness, Lord!" - and sweetness came.
     Do you  need courage?  "Thy courage, Lord!"  Patience?  "Thy patience, Lord!"  Love?  "Thy love, Lord!"  A quiet mind?  "Thy quietness, Lord!"
     Shall we all practice this swift and simple way of prayer more and more?  If we do, our Very Present Help will not disappoint us.  For Thou, Lord, hast never failed them that see Thee.