WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
SEPTEMBER 12, 2026
TOPIC: EVERYONE NEEDS HELP
BY T. O. BANSO
“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’” (Acts 16:9, New King James Version).
Everyone needs help in one area or another, or will soon. Ignorance, pride, or foolishness can, however, make someone think or say he doesn’t need help. Consequently, what is lacking in such a person’s life will persist because of a failure to admit his need. Help is not limited to money.
In Genesis 2:18, after the LORD had formed Adam, He said it was not good that the man should be alone; He would make him a helpmeet for him, a helper comparable to him. God made Eve because Adam needed help.
Suppose someone asks you, “How may I help you?” If you really need help and you know it is safe to speak with the person, it would be unwise not to tell the person how he may help you. Everyone needs help. Do I need help? Evidently, yes.
Blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sitting by the road begging, needed help, and he didn’t hide it. When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was coming, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47, New King James Version). This was a cry for help, but he was not specific.
People tried to silence him, but he continued crying for help until Jesus sent for him. The same people who had tried to silence him told him Jesus was calling him. Bartimaeus threw aside his garment, rose, and went to Jesus. He asked him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (Verse 51, New King James Version). He replied that he wanted his sight restored, and Jesus did exactly that. He helped him.
Someone may not be physically blind, but he may be spiritually blind. He needs spiritual help. Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19, New King James Version). Whether it is physical or spiritual help that someone needs, God wants to help him. He is a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).
You should not fear; God will help you (Isaiah 41:10, 13, 14). Look to God first for help rather than fix your eyes on human beings for help. Psalm 121:1-2 says, “I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!” (New Living Translation).
God may use human beings to help you, but you don’t know who. That’s why you should look to God first. While some people pretend they don’t need help, some ask for help from the wrong people who can’t help them. And when such people don’t help them, they become bitter. But it may be that they are not in a position to help, or God doesn’t want to use them.
Bitterness is a wrong attitude. It will keep God’s help far away from you. As rightly said by the king of Israel (Jehoram/Joram), who was expressing his helplessness and frustration, “If the Lord does not help you, where can I find help for you? From the threshing floor or from the winepress?” (2 Kings 6:27, New King James Version).
Don’t be ashamed or too proud to ask for help, especially when you’ve done all you could to resolve a problem. I am not referring to people who are too lazy to make personal efforts but like to transfer their responsibilities to others. They harass others for help, mostly financial, unconcerned that those people may have their own issues. Often, such people who pressure others with requests for help don’t help anyone in the smallest way possible. Nevertheless, some people sincerely need help. In 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Paul says that if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either, and balances it in Galatians 6:2 by saying we must bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ, which is the law of Christian love.
The Ethiopian eunuch wasn’t a spiritually lazy person. All his efforts to understand the scripture he was reading were unsuccessful. Therefore, God sent Philip to him, and he wasn’t too proud to admit his ignorance. Acts 8:30-31 says, “Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ The man replied, ‘How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.” (New Living Translation).
Philip didn’t merely explain that scripture to this Ethiopian eunuch, but also preached Jesus to him, led him to believe in Jesus, and baptised him in water. This man, despite his high position in the Ethiopian government. Did not hide his ignorance; he admitted that he needed help. Don’t hide your ignorance. What you don’t know, you don’t know! Don’t pretend that you don’t need help—seek help. Everyone needs help in different ways.
Paul understood the cry for help from Macedonia in his night vision, and he did not ignore it. “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’” (Acts 16:9, New King James Version). This was not a cry for financial help or relief materials, but for the gospel and their salvation. Following the vision, Paul and those with him immediately went to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called them to preach the gospel to the Macedonians. Help came to them.
Furthermore, Peter’s cry to Jesus as he was drowning was, “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:30). That was a cry for help, and Jesus saved him. Jesus performed all His miracles to help different people in their areas of need.
Don’t pretend that you are self-sufficient—nobody is. Otherwise, the Apostle Paul would not have asked for prayer help from fellow Christians, considering how mightily God had used him (Colossians 4:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1). Also, the writer of the book of Hebrews says, “Pray for us.” (Hebrews 13:18a).
Everyone needs help. Take your need to God in prayer first; don’t harass anyone. Let the Holy Spirit lead you in asking for help from fellow humans. Help anyone in any way you can—you are sowing a seed for your own help in your time of need. This must not be viewed as a transactional relationship with God, but rather as a byproduct of grace stemming from a living relationship with Him through Christ. Proverbs 3:27-28 says, “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, ‘Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.’” (New Living Translation).
Everyone needs help.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you must repent of your sins and confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour now. Please take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life, your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your heart. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There, you will be taught how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me, and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I invite Jesus into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, send me help from above. Connect me with my helpers, and connect them with me. Father, let me not miss my helpers. No satanic covering will hide me from my helpers. Father, I will not fail to help those I am supposed to help, in Jesus’ name.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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