Having grandchildren has reminded me how often help is really needed for a child.  I often hear, "Papa, help!"  There are stairs to fall down and counters to climb on and food packages that cannot be opened and TV remotes that are confusing.  I need help too.  I cry out to God for grace, for love, for forgiveness, for strength, for protection, for wisdom, for peace and for many other things.  Does this make me a "weanie?"  We have heard many times that "God helps those who help themselves" and while that is not a Bible verse there is some truth to the idea.  We certainly have great capacity and ability as image bearers of God.  On the other hand, we are weak and frail.  We are needy.  We are not strong and mighty, in fact the Father pities us as children because He knows that our frame is made of dust.  PERMISSION TO BE HUMAN GRANTED!  Jesus taught us how to pray and part of that instruction is the regular reminder that we are dependent beings in need of daily provision, merciful pardon and lots of protection!  It's a dangerous world out there and trying to "go it alone" is silly when we have an all wise, all powerful and everywhere present Father who is ready for our requests for help.  Learning to pray like Jesus prayed is learning to recognize our dependence.  Cat Stevens sang back in the 70's that it was a wild world and that it's very hard to get by with just a smile.  True.  Cat left out the fact that in addition to it being a wild world, it is our Father's world.  And, in proper relationship with Him, it is (as Dallas Willard once wrote) a perfectly safe universe.  Will you pray like Jesus taught us to pray?