Fix Your Eyes
READ
Have you ever watched a marathon runner cross the finish line? Overcome with emotion, hands raised high in the air, he lifts his chin and looks to the sky. The response seems to be both typical and natural. Whether he realizes it or not, he seems to be acknowledging that the strength to finish the race came from somewhere beyond himself and beyond this world.
In today's verses, the psalmist looks up and beholds the surrounding mountains. And as he lifts his gaze, he asks a simple question—one that he already knows the answer to—"Where does my help come from?"
Let's take a moment to read our verses today from Psalm 121:1-2:
"I lift my eyes to the mountains—
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
The Maker of heaven and earth."
The psalmist declares that his help comes from the Lord. He affirms that his trust is in God, the Creator of all things. And thankfully, as you and I begin each day, we can do the same—turn our eyes to God and draw strength from Him.
REFLECT
What we fix our eyes on matters.
I hate flying on an airplane. I don't care for the speed or noise, and turbulence immediately sends me into a panic. But because I love to visit people and see new places, I will fly. And when I do, I have this habit of sitting near the window so that I can keep my gaze on the ground below. If I hear a strange noise or if the plane hits turbulence, I look out the window and try to find a sense of calm. Most of the time, it works.
I love boating and being on the water, but when the wind picks up and the seas start to get rough, I am instantly uncomfortable. The motion alone makes me start to feel queasy. So, I do what has been suggested—I fix my eyes on the horizon, which remains still. While the boat rocks back and forth, I keep a steady focus on the line where earth and sky meet, and again, it works.
Where you and I choose to look for help matters. In our verses today, I am reminded of the importance of intentionally turning my eyes toward God each morning. Just as I look out the window or focus on the horizon for comfort, I can daily turn my gaze to Christ—acknowledging that I need His help and trust in His plans.
I don't know about you, but to do this, I have to plan to tell my eyes where to look. At times there are other things in front of me that appear helpful but aren't. If I'm not careful, I can look to the wrong things, and maybe even the wrong people, for comfort. Or I can neglect to look to God for help at all—thinking I have to do everything by my own strength, which was never what our loving Heavenly Father intended.
Whether it is praying, reading the Word, or, like the psalmist, admiring the work of His creation, beginning each day with our eyes fixed on God changes things. As we confidently declare that He is the source of our help and that we depend on Him, we walk through the day with a renewed sense of hope and purpose. We have both the assurance of His love and the comfort of His peace.
When my daughter was little and had to have her yearly shots with the pediatrician, I remember telling her to hold my hand and "look at Mama." It was just my way of being with her in her fear and discomfort. By looking into my eyes, I was hoping that she would feel helped and comforted, loved and secure. I sometimes think God is saying the same thing to us: "Look at Me. Trust Me. I am here to help."
You and I have the joy of having a relationship with the God who made the mountains and put the stars in the sky. While we've never seen Him, we have observed both the beauty of His creation and the undeniable mark of His goodness on our lives. Like the psalmist, we too can confidently say, "Our help comes from the Lord." And now that I think about it, why should you and I look anywhere else?
RESPOND
Take a moment to respond to what you have read.
Write today's verses on an index card and place it in a visible spot this week. As you go through the week, lift your eyes to the Lord as you read the verses. Affirm in your heart that He is where your help comes from.
The psalmist seems to be in awe of the mountains, which were created by God. This week, find something in nature to fix your eyes on, and allow this to stir a sense of awe and wonder—not only for God's creation, but for His mighty power to help.
What we look at gets our attention. This week, take an inventory of the things that might be getting too much of your time (social media, TV, your phone). How can you create a boundary around these things so that your gaze is primarily on God and the things of Him?
This week, listen to the song God, I Look to You by Bethel Music. Let the lyrics serve as a reminder that He is where our help comes from.
REST
Heavenly Father, we fix our eyes on You this morning and trust that You will walk with us through this day. As we look to You, may we begin to see things as You do and be formed by You. Thank You for being our great Helper. We depend on You, acknowledging that we can't do things by our own strength. We put our trust and hope in You today, believing that Your help is always available and that You are all we need. Amen.
Port City writer Holly Campbell wrote today’s devotional.