The solace and hope of Psalm 121 sometimes seems elusive. Let us pause and reflect on the help our Lord offers.
I lift up my eyes to the hills –
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth. (NRSV)
Lord, help us to lift our eyes up to you that we would look to you for help and strength. When we focus our eyes on ourselves or on the comforts of this world, draw our eyes back to you. God in your mercy: Lord, hear our prayer.
God will not let your foot be moved;
God who keeps you will not slumber.
God who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Even as we grow weary, Lord, we know that you do not. Sometimes the help you offer us is an invitation to rest. Too often we refuse this gift saying, “There is no time!” May we not forget that like the heaven and the earth, time is also your creation.
The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
Lord, you are always with us, and all of our circumstances are under your control and authority. When the sun seems too hot please lead us to the shade you offer. When the nighttime seems too dark, help us find the light by which you guide us.
The LORD will keep you from all evil;
the LORD will keep your life.
Lord, you protect our soul and our eternity belongs to you. You were I AM before us and you will be I AM after we are no longer here. There is nowhere we can go that you are not. Help us to trust. Help us to be faithful. Help us to truly know you.
The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.
In the entirety of our lives and the briefness of our moments; in our living and our dying; in our joy and our sorrow; in scarcity and abundance may we always lift our eyes to you, O Lord.
Lord… our help, maker of heaven and earth.
Lord… who does not sleep.
Lord… who provides both shade and light.
Lord… keeper of our life: our going out, our coming in.
Lord… who keeps us.
I lift up my eyes to the hills –
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth. (NRSV)
Amen.
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If you are interested in more prayers like this, consider checking out my book:
Prayers for the People: Scripturally Based Prayers for Worship
Lord, help us to lift our eyes up to you that we would look to you for help and strength. When we focus our eyes on ourselves or on the comforts of this world, draw our eyes back to you. #Psalm121 Click To Tweet
This Psalm is one of my favorites and continues to give comfort. Thanks, Michelle, for your words.