Look UP!

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.  ¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
   where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the LORD,
   the Maker of heaven and earth.
 ³ He will not let your foot slip—
   he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
   will neither slumber nor sleep.
 ⁵ The LORD watches over you—
   the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
   nor the moon by night.
 ⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm—
   he will watch over your life;
⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going
   both now and forevermore.

I love this psalm and wanted to share it with you today. What a wonderful way to start our day! When we've had a hard day, it's easy to say 'oh well tomorrow is a new day' but sometimes when tomorrow comes we are still holding on to the baggage of the day before and that doesn't help the new day be any better. That's why the book of Psalms is such an encouragement. When we've had a hard day or we are discouraged we can read the Psalms and the Lord will lift us out of our despair.

Just look at how this Psalm starts: "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." Another translation says "I lift up mine eyes unto the hills". Whatever words are chosen they all convey the same thought, we look UP from our troubles, from the things that are holding us down. We look UP from our discouragement. We look UP because we know our help, the only help we need, comes from the Lord.

Three times in this eight verse psalm the psalmist reminds us that the Lord watches over us. He doesn't slumber or sleep. He is always watching over us like a protective Father, One who loves His children. He knows when we need encouragement. He knows when our way is becoming harder to bear. He knows when we need help because He is always watching over us. That's comforting to me.

I can remember when I was very little and I got tired of walking, my Dad would swing me up and carry me on his shoulders. I wasn't tired anymore. My Dad was carrying me. That's what the Lord will do for us when we are weary too. He'll carry us. He'll send help our way, whether it be someone offering words of encouragement or some other help, we can know that He sees our need and He is acting on it.

So if you are discouraged today, look UP, look to God for your help. He is there waiting for you to call on His name. Ask Him for His help. He'll give it freely to you. Be encouraged today!