Psalms Eighteen is a remarkable description of David's attitude toward the Lord. Actually it is the Spirit of Christ who is speaking in David.

One aspect of the psalm (which I term "The Warrior's Prayer") is the manner in which David sought help in his time of need.

When David was desperate he called on the Lord!

What's new? Don't all preachers tell us to call on the Lord when we need help?

Maybe they used to.

But a new spirit has entered our ranks. It is the concept of trying to get hold of God in such a manner that we can deliver ourselves.

If we will only listen to the right tape, read the right book, say the right words, take the right attitude, send a thousand dollars to the evangelist, get rid of our bitterness, imagine we are a child wandering through the woods, get right with our wife, pay our bills, tithe to the church, form a mental image of what we want, speak the word of faith, proclaim the creative word, gird up the loins of our mind, think positively, act as though it is true, go to Texas to be prayed for by someone with an outstanding gift, persuade the whole church to fast and pray, we will get what we want.

Have you ever had this kind of advice? If you can find the right formula you will be delivered.

Many of the items we have listed work very well on certain occasions. On other occasions nothing happens. I can hear you saying amen!

Notice, in Psalms Eighteen, David did none of these things.

What did David do? He called on the LORD.

There is a time to work the moves, try the formulas. But when your head feels like a rotten melon, when you have to look up to see the bottom, the advice of Job's comforters is a pain in the neck.

Someone said, "When I'm sick don't let the Christians near me." This is a bit overstated but I know what he means.

I will now tell you the greatest prayer in the English language, one used by the saints of old. Are you ready? "Help me Lord!" If you are from the South, you probably will say, "Hep me Lord!" Same prayer, different dialect. God understands both of them.

If you have a need right now why don't you call on the Lord! Maybe you've tried everything else. Call loudly enough so God can hear you. Blow the trumpet in His ears. God loves that. "Help me Lord."

The Eighteenth Psalm tells you what will take place. God will become excited, bow the heavens by His galactic power, shake up the situation, and come down to find out what's wrong.

After the Lord delivers you, you will have strength enough to go back to your formulas. Sometimes they're helpful.

God will tell you what to do. Brother Dowell used to say, "If you can't get God to go your way, why not try going God's way."

And he was from Texas!