“[E]very man, conducting himself as a good citizen, and being accountable to God alone for his religious opinions, ought to be protected in worshipping the Deity according to the dictates of his own conscience.” –George Washington, letter to the General Committee of the United Baptist Churches in Virginia, 1789

No one seems to agree as to whether George Washington ended his oath of office as the first president of the fledgling United States with the declaration “so help me God.” Somewhere in our history, those words have become engrained in oaths taken by judges and others holding high office.

So what does it mean – “so help me God”?

There have been times in my own life when the task ahead, the challenge before me, was higher and wider and more perilous than I could conquer on my own and I knew it.

That is when I said, “so…help me God!” – not as a command, but a plea.

I knew that left all alone, I would be overcome.

I also knew that God hears, He cares, and He delights to help us up when we call His name.

I have learned that His good help is sufficient for all of my needs.

There is not one thing too small or too big to request His help about and not one moment that He is not ready to answer.

May we make it our heart’s cry each and every day – so help me God!

Psalm 121:1-2, New International Version (NIV): “I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”