Key scripture – “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2).

In the beginning of this psalm, the psalmist, like we have a tendency to do, looks first at what he can see, the hills, but he realizes real quickly that his real help comes from the One Who is unseen.

Whatever storm you are in right now, what are your eyes focused on? Are they on the storm or on God? Are they on the One Who is in control of the storm and Who is described as your Helper, Jehovah Ezer, in this psalm? Are they on the One that you have access to all day and all night?

“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.” (Psalm 121:5-6). So let us not neglect His help, lift your eyes not to the creation but unto your Creator, Who stands ready to run to your cry for help. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” (Psalm 46:1-3).

J R Smith exhorts believers to “Look up!”…

In whatever state, in whatever place, into whatever condition we may be — let us seek grace to follow our Lord’s loving advice, and “look up!” Do not look back. Do not look within. Do not look around. But “Look Up!” Look up to God — He is your Father, your Friend, your Savior. He can help you. He will help you. He says, “Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:22 NKJV)

Look up for light to guide you — and He will direct your path.

Look up for grace to sanctify you — and the grace of Jesus will be found sufficient for you.

Look up for strength to enable you to do and suffer God’s will — and His strength will be made perfect in your weakness.

Look up for comfort to cheer you — and as one whom his mother comforts, so will the Lord comfort you.

Look up for courage to embolden you — and the Lord will give courage to the faint; and to those who have no might — He will increase strength.

Look up for endurance to keep you — and the God who preserves you will enable you quietly to bear the heaviest burden, and silently to endure the most painful affliction.

Look up for providence to supply you — and the jar of flour will not be used up, and the jug of oil will not run dry “in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.” (1 Kings 17:16). But God shall supply all your needs, according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Look up in faith — exercising confidence in the Word of a faithful God.

Look up in prayer — asking for what God has graciously promised.

Look up in hope — expecting what you ask in the name of Jesus.

Look up with adoration — and adore the sovereignty, righteousness, and wisdom of God.

Look up constantly — let nothing daunt or discourage you! Rather say, “Our eyes are on the Lord our God — until He shows us mercy.”

Look up — for this will keep . . .

the head from swimming,
the heart from sinking,
the knees from trembling,
the feet from slipping, and
the hands from hanging down!

It is impossible to say what will happen to us, or what will be required of us — but “Look up!”

This direction, if properly attended to, will . . .’

procure for us all that we need,
secure us against all that we dread, and
make us more than a match for all our foes and fears!

Fellow-Christian, are you fearful? “Look up” and hear Jesus saying to you, “Do not be afraid — I Myself will help you!”

Are you discouraged? “Look up” — and your youth shall be renewed like the eagle’s, and fresh light, comfort, and courage shall be given to you!

Are you desponding? “Look up” for Jesus never breaks the bruised reed.

Do not look at your sin — but look at the infinitely meritorious blood of God’s dear Son!

Do not look too much at self — but look at Jesus, who ever lives to make intercession for you in Heaven.

Are you stripped of your comforts, your props, and your goods? Then look up! God loves you! He will be more than all these to you! He will . .
bind up your broken heart,
calm your perturbed spirit,
cheer your drooping mind, and
fill you with His own peace and happiness.

Look up . . .

for all that you need;
from all that you fear;
through all that would obstruct your way.

Look up every day, saying with David, “In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You — and will look up!” (Psalm 5:3).

Look up in every trial, saying “I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from whence comes my help: my help comes from the Lord, who made Heaven and earth!”

Do not look at your sin — it will discourage you!

Do not look at yourself — it will distress you!

Do not look at Satan — he will bewilder you!

Do not look to men — they will deceive, or disappoint you!

Do not look at your trials — they will deject you!

“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us — looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith!” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Look only,
look always,
look intently —
to Jesus!

Run looking, work looking, fight looking, suffer looking, live looking, and die looking — to Jesus, who is at God’s right hand in glory.

Oh, look, look, look to Jesus!

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, I will not look at the wind or the waves or my circumstances, nor will I look to anything else to save me. I will only look to You and I will keep my eyes firmly and intently planted on Jesus. Like the Psalmist I proclaim, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” (Psalm 34:4-7). You are my strength and my courage. You are Jehovah Ezer, my Helper. I say wil boldness, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6). I seek Your face Lord and Your strength. I will continue to look up, to look to The Lord. (Psalm 105:4). In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.