I Will Lift Up My Eyes

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord Who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

As we enter the New Year, I’m sure 2021 is a year we will never forget.  No one has escaped the impact of the pandemic which has altered our lives in so many ways.  And we’ve read about the unprecedented devastation of fires and tornados, drought and floods in our own country and around the world.  But in the midst of all of this, I am reminded to lift my eyes to the Lord. and not become overwhelmed by all the changes we are experiencing.  I pray that you will be encouraged to do the same.

Psalm 121 is one of the songs the people of Israel would sing as they made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem three times each year to celebrate what God had done for them.  They celebrated the feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.  As they came near to Jerusalem from distant parts of the land, they would “lift their eyes” and see Mount Zion where Jerusalem was located, the place where the temple was built for God’s dwelling place on earth.  As they journeyed and sang, they would be reminded of their God who brought them out of slavery in Egypt and brought them to the land He had promised their ancestor Abraham so long ago.

The psalmist begins with his declaration of looking to God. He then asks the question, “Where does my help come from?”  And the answer is in verse 2:  My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. He could have just said, “My help comes from the Lord.”  But the added phrase “who made heaven and earth” reminds us of the Lord’s amazing power. He is the Creator of all things! His power is unlimited!

As followers of Jesus, we have a choice.  When everything around us seems hopeless and totally out of control, in the midst of fear, devastation, the changes in the world all around us, we may be tempted to give in to fear and despair.  Or we can choose to lift our eyes to the Lord in these dark days. God has not changed.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  He is still in sovereign control of the earth He created! He knows everything that we are going through at every moment.  That is what I want to remember in this changing world. 

As I was preparing to write this devotional, I thought about what Peter experienced.  You probably know the story from Matthew 14:22-33.  After the miracle of feeding the 5,000, Jesus had sent the disciples to the other side of the lake in a boat.  Before they reached the other side, Jesus came to them walking on the water!  The disciples were terrified, thinking they were seeing a ghost.  Jesus said, “It is I; do not be afraid.”  Peter said, “If it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”  Jesus said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.  Until he took his eyes off of Jesus and focused on the wind and waves surrounding him.  That’s when he began to sink.  He cried out to Jesus, “Lord, save me!”  Jesus immediately stretched out His hand and took hold of Peter.

Jesus hears us when we call out to Him.  His Word is full of promises that we can cling to when we feel like we are sinking.  One of the best ways to “lift our eyes” to the Lord is to call out to Him for help.  Get to know Him through His Word.  Here are just a few of the Scriptures I choose to focus on: 

Psalm 46:1-2 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore, we will not fear though the earth should change, and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea.

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God.

Psalm 62:1-2 My soul waits in silence for God only; from Him comes my salvation.  He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.

Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.

Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

I love the song by Bebo Norman called “I Will Lift My Eyes.”  You can listen to it on YouTube, but here is the refrain that is repeated several times:

I will lift my eyes to the Maker Of the mountains I can’t climb

I will lift my eyes to the Calmer Of the oceans raging wild

I will lift my eyes to the Healer Of the hurt I hold inside

I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

In this New Year, instead of dwelling on all the negative issues surrounding us, let’s remember to celebrate who God is and remember what He has done. Instead of fear and despair, we can live in trust and dependence on our sovereign God who loves us and is in complete control of our lives.

Let’s look for ways to encourage others who are struggling in these fearful and changing times.

What is your best way of lifting your eyes to the Lord when you are surrounded by the “wind and waves” like Peter was? I encourage you to make a list of Scriptures that you can turn to often to be reminded of God’s love and His promises to you.  It helps to write them out on a notecard and keep them handy!

We need to stay connected with other followers of Jesus in order to be encouraged and to encourage others.  Do you have a friend or group of friends to help you stay strong when you are facing difficult situations in your life?  If not, ask God to bring someone into your life for that kind of relationship.

Consider writing a prayer to God declaring your trust in His promises and His faithfulness.