Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;the darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.  When other helpers fail and comforts flee, help of the helpless, O abide with me.

These words from verse one of the church hymn, “Abide with Me”, were written by Henry Lyte. God is described as the “help of the helpless,” the one who can and will help when all other helpers fail. In my life experience with God, that’s an appropriate description of who God is and what God does. How about you?

It’s interesting that in the opening verse of this classic hymn of the church, not once is God, the help for the helpless, ever asked to help. Rather the request, made multiple times, is for God to simply abide and stay with the one singing the words. 

In my life, it’s usually the other way around. More often than not, I reach out to God to receive some benefit from God; help, healing, guidance, strength, peace. I often seek God’s help, but less often do I just seek God. Sound familiar?

So, I want to encourage you to simply seek God. Just seek God to be with God. Maybe you can use these words from “Abide with Me” to help with that. Sing, or say the words to verse one and then stop, be still, spend a few moments in God’s abiding presence, and just see what happens next. 

Click here to listen to more (June 28 sermon). 

You partner on the journey,

Pastor Steve