Feeling Like Riley?
Weekly devotional by Barbara Sanders

Psalms 32:7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. The Life of Riley, with William Bendix, was a situation comedy of the 1950's. Bendix had originally had the started the Life of Riley as a radio show, and later came back in 1953 to star in the television version. Riley was a typical person, always misunderstanding and then funny things began to happen with his family. But, life went on, the family loved him, and so did his friends. As with the Riley family, life has it's ways of dealing you pleasure, misery, or happiness or sadness. Not everyone can be a Riley. Not everyone is able to look beyond their faults and see the true person. They sometimes take life more seriously than they should, and sometimes, not as serious as they should. There has to be a happy medium. This is where GOD comes in. Without God, we are in a pickle (fix, if you may!). We tend to try and FIX everything the way we think it should be. We take comments to mean that people are dissatisfied with us as a person, when, perhaps, it was only that the person was trying to give us some needed advice. But, we aren't equipped to accept those handouts. We'd rather appear to be self-sufficient in that area. Needless to say, most of us need help. But the most caring person may say the 'right' things in the 'wrong' tone; therefore, we are put off by the comments. Again, this is where GOD comes in. Whether we want to admit it or not, we can't go through life alone, or we are lost. If we tend to be selfish, then we are lonely. If we can admit that we need help, then we are extraodinarily lucky! Man seems to want to be so self-sufficient as to appear to never need help, although his soul is dying, for lack of help. This is where GOD comes in. By now, you know that you can't do without God. No matter where you are, or what you do, GOD is there. He is seeing everything you do, hearing everything you say, and wanting to help you through the process of life. He wants to make things more bearable, to give you a life of peace, and to let you know that someone does understand your situation, and is able to give you the needed help. Let that soul cry out to Him. Don't be afraid to open up and confess your faults, your needs, and your expectations. Then, be on the look out for the help - it's on it's way! But, you have to trust in Him, and believe that He will be there. Don't be the double-minded man in James 1:8, and, the moment you ask for help, think that there is no way GOD will help. You have to either trust Him, or you don't. You can't have 'your cake and eat it too', as the old saying goes. So the next time you feel a 'RILEY' coming on, or you get in one of those situations where you need help, do not hesitate. Take the 'life-line', and give HIM a call. He is right there waiting!

Heavenly Father, although we don't want to admit we need help, we do. We need you, Lord, to guide us through life, to keep us upright and away from selfishness. Help us to keep our eyes and hearts set on you. We give you praise. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.