A devotional by Patricia Russell
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,
from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord,
which made heaven and earth.”
–Psalm 121:1-2 (KJV)
Most celebrations have a point and time when the gathering is asked to be quiet, while acknowledgements and honors are given to the guest of honor.
Today, I would love for us to take a moment and celebrate the faithfulness of the most important Guest of Honor. Let’s raise a toast to the Creator of the Universe. He is the God who created the heavens and the earth. He is the one who watches over us when we sleep. He is the one who never slumbers nor sleeps. He is the one who promises us a hope and a future.
We’re starting a new year.
We’ve never walked this way before. There are things that will happen that we never expected and never saw coming. However, because of God’s unchanging character, I’m going to plant my feet firm in faith in Him. It is my hope and my prayer that you and I will draw closer to Him.
The past few years have pushed us into His face. We’ve held onto Him like young children who don’t want to leave their parent’s grasp. Many times, I’ve found myself looking up, like Abraham did when God told him to count the stars. When Abraham began counting and got into the thousands (I wonder if he reached that far) he must have felt quite overwhelmed and wondered, “How is this going to ever happen?”
The questions of how, considering he was not only old but did not have a child at the time, must have stunned him. This same question of “How will it happen?” or “How is it going to ever work out?” has crossed our lips year after year but I would like to encourage us right at this year’s beginning to make our first thought be to simply look up.
Why look up? Up is where our help lies. Up is where the stars cannot be all counted. Looking up we see the span of the sky and all the beauty spread far beyond what our eyes can even see. Looking up means the possibilities are endless because of God.
Camping is not my first choice of vacationing. My husband, on the other hand, has this fascination with the great outdoors and often shares memories of lying outside, looking up at the stars and for hours on end enjoying the spectacle of twinkling beings. His imagination runs wild with creativity. If this sounds a little childlike, it’s intentional. Let’s not lose the wonder this year in looking up and seeing the possibilities that can yet happen.
I encourage you to consciously shut down the sounds and voices that will want you to look down. Intentionally close the screens that provide constant updates of changes of threats in weather, finances or food. Daily look up as the psalmist states because up is where your help comes from. Up is where our Heavenly Father is. Up is where one day we will be going. Up is where we look to count stars and see the possibilities that our minds and hearts cannot conceive.
Psalm 121:3-7 (KJV) continues by saying:
“He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.”
Let’s Pray: Father God, thank You for this new year. Thank You that we can look up in hope and confidence that you have the whole world in your hands. Thank You that my faith rests in You alone. Help me when I am tempted to fear, to look up and to rest in the truth of your promises that You will never leave me nor forsake me. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
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Note from Alexis: Patricia’s devotional message today reminds me of the song “My Help” performed by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. They literally put all of Psalm 121 to modern music! Listen to their song here.
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Author Bio:
Patricia is an encourager. She passionately uses her giftings as an author, speaker, pastor, recording artist, worship leader and coach.
Patricia sings! She has released two CDs titled Draw Me Nearer and Lord I Trust You.
She also travels to speak to audiences internationally.
When she is not ministering to save souls in God’s Kingdom, Patricia enjoys reading, writing and connecting like-minded people who can sharpen each other in the journey to their dreams and goals.
As a two-time breast cancer overcomer, her desire is to coach others to live life to the fullest by understanding their gifting from God and using it.
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Connect with Patricia:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrussellsings/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrussellonline
Twitter: https://twitter.com/patrussellsings
Email: patrussellsings@gmail.com
Connect with Patricia:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrussellsings/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrussellonline
Twitter: https://twitter.com/patrussellsings
Email: patrussellsings@gmail.com
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