Handpicked

The Lord is my Helper. I am depending directly on Him. He is handpicking those that will help me. He is my Defender. He is delivering me out of all my difficulties. He is waging war on my behalf. Psalm 118:7 (Personalized)

Luke 5:17-39 tells the story of some men who took a paralysed man to Jesus to be healed. Seeing no way through the crowd, they lowered him through the roof. Because of their faith, Jesus tells the man His sins are forgiven and after some discussion with the doubting Pharisees, He also heals him physically.

When I ruminate on this story, I think about the persons through the years that God placed directly in my path to help me. They hold me up on prayers of faith, stand in the gap for me and aren’t intimidated in those moments God allows me to shine. They support, love and encourage me. I am grateful and most indebted to them. It took faith and trust on both sides to get the man through the roof and in front of Jesus. I am thankful for the ones God handpicked for me.

Over the years I have also seen how others have been placed in my path to help and encourage. When we follow the dictates of the Holy Spirit, He reveals to us the connections we foster as well as the ones that must end. The faith of friends can lift our spirits up during hard times and advocate on our behalf. Speak for us in rooms we may never enter and stand in the gap for us.

When I look at the Bible characters like Abraham and David, I see them communing with God as they would to a friend which gives me comfort that I, too, can go to God with the good, the bad and the ugly parts of me.

Not only is God our Helper, handpicking and carefully setting the path for which we are created. He is also our Deliverer willing and ready to come to our aid. It’s hard not to react when difficulties arise but faith helps us to choose to respond because we trust that God will bring us out of it.

• “A faithful friend is a strong defense; And he that hath found him hath found a treasure.” - Louis May Alcott

• "When you ask God for a gift, Be thankful if he sends, Not diamonds, pearls or riches, but the love of real true friends."

  - Helen Steiner Rice

• "Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away."

  - George Eliot

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for sending the Greatest Friend we could have in the person of Your Son Jesus. He showed us by laying down His life for us. He counted us as His Friend and handpicked those who will help us on life’s journey. Give us insight to choose wisely and not to take for granted those whom He sends. In His name we pray with thanksgiving. Amen.

Jesus is a far greater Friend than the men who lowered the man through the roof. He won’t give up on us and nothing can separate us from His love.

The last few lyrics from the song In Christ Alone emanate Paul’s words from Romans 8:31-39.

"No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand;

Till He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand."

Be blessed to be a blessing!

K.I.M (Kingdom Inspired Messages)

Author of K.I.M