Self-help books offer advice on everything from A to Z. There are books on abuse, baking, co-dependency, depression, eating disorders, fly-fishing, gardening, happiness, incest survival, journaling, kissing, loving, mood improvement, negotiating, overeating, potty training, quality control, relaxing, stuttering, trading online, umpiring, vacationing, workaholism, x-ray reading, yodeling and zeroing in on what’s important—like reading this devotional.
I enjoy reading some self-help books, but they don’t really help! Dr. Spock offers me tactics, but he can’t tame my child’s temper. Suze Orman can sell me The 9 Steps To Financial Freedom, but not the power to carry them out. Jack Canfield can serve up fifteen helpings of Chicken Soup For the Soul, but he cannot give the help that puts my soul at rest. Self-help books can give me everything—but help! For that I need God.
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! The LORD Almighty is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. (Psalm 46:1-3,7 NLT)
Looking for help? There’s no better place to turn than to God. His book has been on the best-seller list longer than any of us can remember. And unlike other authors, God actually provides the power we need to live out what he tells us.
Where do you need help today?
Whether it is parenting, patience, peace, saving, studying, stopping a bad habit, getting up after falling down, reaching your dreams or just trying to hang in there one more day, “God is always ready to help!”
Today, praise God who is your refuge and strength! Then ask Him for his help -- for you and for those around you today.