I love You, Jesus. Help.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes
from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. PSALM 121:1-2 NIV
I love You, Jesus, help was the first five-word prayer I ever remember praying. I prayed it one night when I was at a loss for words, distressed over my lack of change and growth, struggling over the same things I’ve struggled with for years. Sometimes I loathe the sound of my own voice, praying the same stale prayers for change that aren’t guttural enough for follow-through. I’m a grown woman, for goodness’ sake, but some days I feel like a child. I say things I don’t want to say. I do things I don’t want to do. I behave poorly when I know better. I know all the calorie counts and still struggle to eat the right foods. My flesh is an albatross and daily I yearn to overcome it. So many things in my life have changed since I was a child, yet so many things have not.
We are a shared human race, so I know you feel my plight. We are a people of hoping, trying our best and lamenting our worst. We have great days and weeks and even some months and years…and then the crash comes, and we are left feeling that all the good we experienced was just a massive fluke. We struggle not to slip into skepticism. It’s tempting to worry away our days and fear ourselves into numbness. And in those real moments, it may be that all we can o er to God are five simple words:
I love You, Jesus. Help.
Those words may be small, but I believe that they are just the same as if they were a spoken novel of all the best heart alliterations, He hears them and responds with all fullness and tenderness of a Savior’s love. This simple prayer calls on heaven. It says to God that though our heart is full of love for Him, it is breaking over the frustrations the world is causing us.
This prayer is an abandoned prayer. It is a needy prayer. It is a sweet prayer from a helpless child to a Father fully in control.
Even in this moment as we struggle, we can lift our eyes to the God who loves us. We can lift our face to see Him in the dark, lift our voice to call out to Him for help. He is tender to
our struggle. He is ready to respond to the need.
I love You, Jesus. Help.
“God Help Me!” Psalms to Pray
When you don’t know what to pray, Scripture provides the words for you! Use these prayers from Psalms to guide your request for help from God.
H – “Hear me Lord and answer me for I am poor and needy.” Psalm 86:1
The first step is to let God know that you need him and want His help.
E – “Establish my steps in your word.” Psalm 119:133
Second, ask God for His direction and for strength to stand firm in His promises.
L – “Let your compassion quickly meet our needs because we are on the brink of despair.” Psalm 79:8
We often need help because of our past choices and sin. Ask God to help you focus on his compassion and grace to lift you out of your despair and heart ache.
P – “Protect me God because I take refuge in You. I say to the Lord, You are my Lord, apart from You I have nothing good.” Psalm 16:1
Whether it’s spiritual protection from Satan’s attacks or physical protection, we can come to God and ask Him to be our protector and provider. Seek refuge and lean on God, not your own strength or abilities. God promises to be your refuge if you will let Him!
Excerpted from Lisa’s new book 5-Word Prayers: Where to Start When You Don’t Know What to Say to God (Harvest House, October 3, 2017), author and Bible teacher Lisa Whittle reminds readers the strength of prayers lies in the heart’s intent, not the word count. Each entry in this forty-day devotional will provide a simple five-word prayer, a corresponding Bible verse, and thoughts to encourage.
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