Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

We had been intensely focused on business concerns when the call came. A dear friend was whisked off to the hospital with blood pressure 65 over 15, unconscious. Suddenly that awareness that there are more important things in this life than personal concerns swept through us. We prayed.

It took ten hours for word to comeback that she was stable and the problem identified. Danger was averted and a plan put in place to see to her medical condition. We could relax.

Then I went right back to worrying about my own problems. I went right back into the pattern I was in before the call. I slept about three hours last night because of it. What’s wrong with me?

I see a need to pray for others, for God to find a way out of a dark place and back into the safety of His arms. Why can I not do the same for myself? God cares about me. God has been gracious to me. Why don’t I take my worries to the Lord in prayer?

I know in my heart “Kingdom business” first. But I do not see my business as being “Kingdom business” and I have this attitude that I have to take care of my business. It just escapes me that while I am in the world, I am not of the world. I am Kingdom business. I may not have the immediate health treat of my friend, but if I keep up this pattern of restless nights and loss of sleep it can affect my health. Then it will be Kingdom business for others to intercede with prayer.

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Thank you most gracious God, my Father in Heaven. Shine a light upon my path to lead me out of this dark place, back to your loving arms. Amen

Acts 27:17 and 1 Corinthians 12:28 are the two verses where the word helps is used in the bible. The first example is a nautical expression with is a binding rope or chain to hold a ship together. The second use is in a list of gifts of service. We all think we understand what helps means there, as we are all called to be servants. I think it is a little more complicated than that.

The common usage in the gifts of helps is to support the weak, to lend a hand where needed. That is fine, but the first assertion of the Greek word antilepsis is a laying hold of, an exchange, as if it were to take the lead, to be out front.

Two different Greek words translated as helps, taken from two different situations, but for all practical purposes perform the same work, to keep things from falling apart. In the later part, of the gift, it has a broader meaning. It is not specific in what kind of help is needed. What help is required takes either knowledge of circumstance or investigation of needs.

But another helps is in the gifting which is not obvious and has no formal training or education exists. That is discernment. This help is strictly exercised in obedience of faith, responding to the Holy Spirit who knows the will of God and the needs of us all.

Discernment is an outgrowth of wisdom. Wisdom is the knowledge of expected outcome for a known situation. Discernment is the knowledge of expected outcome of a hidden situation. Only God can provide that kind of help.

Recognition of the gift of helps discernment can only be seen thru exercising obedience of faith.