Call On The Lord 

“Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.”
Psalm 5:2 (NIV) 

May 1940 was a time of grave crisis for Britain. Hitler had launched a blitzkrieg against the Low Countries and France. German panzer forces, led by Rommel began a rapid advance across France and Belgium. With the entire front collapsing rapidly, the decision was reached to evacuate British forces from the continent. The only port from which to evacuate was Dunkirk and that was already being seriously threatened by the Germans. Churchill thought that perhaps 20,000 of the 300,000 plus men might make it back. All seemed to be lost.

On Sunday, 26 May, King George VI requested that a National Day of Prayer should be observed. The king and cabinet attended Westminster Abbey and around the country people flocked to church. In its hour of need the monarch and people alike called upon the Lord in prayer. And that cry did not go unanswered. For some inexplicable reason Hitler halted the advance of his armoured columns when they could have proceeded to annihilate the British army. On Tuesday, 28 May, a storm of unprecedented fury broke over Flanders, grounding the German Luftwaffe squadrons. And despite the storm in Flanders, a great calm settled over the English Channel during the days which followed enabling a vast armada of anything that would float to go back and forth in a desperate bid to rescue as many men as possible.

Rather than the anticipated 20,000, some 335,000 men were rescued in what Churchill described as ‘a miracle of deliverance’.

Sadly, the idea of calling on the Lord in prayer doesn’t feature much today. When the economic crisis hit I don’t remember our political leaders saying, “Let’s get down on our knees, call on the name of Almighty God and ask Him for help.” To many people, asking God for help is a novel concept. And yet, what changes could take place, both for individuals and nations, how many problems might we solve, what miracles might occur, if we simply called on the Lord to help us?

King David, no stranger to trials and tribulations, knew how to ask for help. In this plea, David acknowledged two important things: First, God is King. David acknowledged that God reigns supreme; there is no one greater. Second, David acknowledged that only God could help him; he said “… to you I pray,” addressing God, and no one else. David put his trust solely in the Lord. By turning to God for help and recognizing that God was the only source of reliable help, he guaranteed that he would receive assistance.

When we turn to other people for help, they may or may not come through for us. But when we turn to God in complete dependence and desperation, we will receive His assistance. God wants us to ask for His help. Let’s not waste the opportunity.

Prayer
Father, thank you for always being there for us. Please give us a heart to call upon your name and to trust in your deliverance.
Amen

Study by Barry Robinson

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About the Author:
Barry Robinson is an Elder in and pastoral worker in the Greater London area, particularly the Camberwell and North London congregations of the Worldwide Church of God UK.

Local Congregation:
Worldwide Church of God Camberwell
The Salvation Army Hall
105 Lomond Grove
Camberwell
LONDON
SE5 7HN

Meeting time:
Saturday 11 am

Local Congregational Contact:
Barry Robinson Email:  barry_robinson@wcg.org.uk