Every Friday I join a community of bloggers for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt, five minutes. The prompt this week is … Help.
The word prompt brings to mind one of my favorite psalms – Psalm 121.
God’s people made the trip to Jerusalem three times a year. The journey was not an easy one as there were no smoothly paved roads along the path which took them through valleys, through mountains and other rough terrain.
Yet they found strength in the Lord Himself to keep returning to Him. These travelers help me navigate these days in which we all now find ourselves.
God will be our help. “I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!†(verses 1-2, NLT). May we look to the Maker, our Maker, for all help.
God will be our support system. “He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber†(verse 3, NLT). God will be continuously there for us. He never sleeps on the job but stays ever positioned, ever alert to our needs.
God will keep watch over us. “The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever†(verse 8, NLT). The words “watches over†is used five times in this short psalm (see verses 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8). Discouragement and harm will threaten to invade our space, but God deposits into each of us all that we need to press on in our journey. There is never a day He is not faithfully watching over us.
May we look up,
and see our Help.
Photo by Monika Geble on Unsplash
Today I am joining …
â¤ï¸. I’ve never paid attention to the number of times ‘watches over’ occurs in that psalm! How comforting to know that God watches over us. He knows just what we need. Even before we do!
It’s interesting to me how I can miss something even when I’ve read it many times. I am so grateful He knows I need repetition 🙂
With the “maker of heaven and earth” as my help, I wonder why I worry so much…
Me too.
It’s so true!
I love this psalm too, I have the mountains as a backdrop here and so identify with this verse – enjoyed your reflection. #fmf7
How wonderful to have the reminder there before you each day. It’s the reason I love going on vacation each year – the sight of the mountains amazes me – morning after morning.
My journey’s not an easy one,
I’m swimming in the dark,
wishing I had spear or gun,
’cause all around me’s sharks.
They circle in the briny deep,
a-swimmin’ through the flood.
They’re hungry and they never sleep,
drawn closer by my blood.
But teeth clang in frustration
on sudden iron bars,
and in my jubliation,
clouds part – I see stars!
The monsters thrash in fury’d rage,
but Jesus, well, He’s my shark-cage.
Andrew, He surrounds us continually. Brother, may you never forget it. And you are helping us all to never forget as well. Praying for you this morning.
Five times in one Psalm, and countless times in real life. =)
Amie, FMF #13
Amen. How precious and very true!
What would we do without Him? God help us.
Susan, I am so very glad we never will find out for He is faithful!
“Travelers navigating our days…” what a powerful image for us now! God IS our help, always. Thank you for your lovely thoughts and picture, Joanne
He is the One who helps us navigates these days. May we just depend on His lead.
A great reminder of where our only true help comes in times of difficulty and trouble!
I love this psalm and is truths. Yet I don’t think I had noticed the five repetitions of “watches over” in it before. He knew we needed that much reassurance.
Barbara, I am so amazed how God’s Word always falls fresh and new. He knows just what we need to read. Blessings!
Oh, I love that Psalm too. What a beautiful encouraging post. Our God is faithful and always present, so comforting for us. #fmf.29
Thanks for the reassuring post and reminder.
(Visiting from #23)