Help to Transcend and Overcome

UV 1451/10000 Help to Transcend and Overcome
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Hebrews 13 v 6

When we believe the Lord, relate to Him and intake His Word on a daily basis, we can deal with all our human fears most effectively. Faith is a shield primarily against all types of fears. When we pray, the fears that prey on our minds will cease. The wings of prayer and the Word can act as a refuge when we are under the cover of these wings. The same wings act as a prop to carry us forward and up. The wings stretch through history and all of eternity. It covers every conceivable situation we go through. On the basis of the confidence we have in God’s power and the trust we have in His character of faithfulness to His Word, each day and in every situation we can affirm, “ The Lord is my helper.”

The name of the Lord is Ebenezer. This is the reason the Psalmist writes, “My help is in the name of the Lord.” He is not a mute spectator of our lives but is constantly searching for ways to help us and bless us. He helps us in our hour of need. He sends support, succour and Saviour our way. Salvation is not something we receive at the end of our lives for having lived a life of faith but it is the help we receive constantly and continuously. We need not fear want. We need not fear violence. David wrote the psalm stating that “even if an army encamps against him, he would not fear.” We need not fear the machinations of the evil one. He is greater, infinitely more powerful than he is. We need not fear when we pass through the valley of the shadow of death. We need not fear death or judgement. We need not fear the high and mighty. We need not fear failure and can boldly pursue or await the fulfilment of the dreams He places in our hearts. Joseph knew even when his brothers conspired to kill him and then put him in a pit that deliverance would come from the Lord. His God-sent dreams would not die during his lifetime. The scripture that declares “Our help comes from the Maker of Heaven and Earth” implies that we get supernatural as well as natural help. The Lord being the Maker and master of the earth commanded a raven to bring food to the famished prophet Elijah. He caused a fish to bring a gold coin to pay Jesus and the apostles’ tax due. He caused the widow’s oil to overflow. He provided water to the Israelites from the rock and manna from heaven. He can source our help from the human or the natural or outsource it to heaven. We find a fine blend or balance of the natural and the supernatural, the human and the divine, the earthly and the heavenly playing out for our help and enablement.

The Lord is our strength. He gives us the inner strength- the ability to endure with patience and hope all our troubles. He restores us when we fall, fail or decline in any aspect of our lives. The inner peace bubbles up in our souls like a deep spring. It refreshes us and renews us. It enables us to soar above our earthly circumstances. A man or woman of faith always lives a few steps above the level of his or her circumstances. Our faith enables us to transcend and overcome. The divine or supernatural help we obtain by faith to transcend and overcome is called grace. The Holy Spirit is also called the Helper. He helps us feel the presence and the comfort of the Lord. He also helps us by reminding us of the promises of the Lord. In our human lives, we remind each other of the promises made by the other but the promise-giver Himself reminds us through the whispers of the Holy Spirit. He also helps us with wise counsel, prophetic guidance and setting up guide posts in our decision- making.

Prateep V Philip