Lifting Up Our Eyes

I am one of those fortunate people who live surrounded by the beauty of nature.  I have no excuse to not consider the kind and steady help of the Lord as I look at those beautiful scenes.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains –where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

And then I recently read the story of a time Jesus lifted up His eyes.  He was standing in front of the tomb of His friend Lazarus who had been dead for days surrounded by people who were mourning and thinking all hope was God because Jesus had not gotten there in time to help Lazarus while He was still alive.

During this intense time of aggravation, sorrow, misunderstanding, and even accusation, what did Jesus do?  He lifted up his eyes and spoke to His father.  He did it out loud, not because He had to for His own sake but for the sake of others around Him. 

Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”  John 11:41-42

Heavenly Father, in the lovely quiet moments of life when we can pause and view beauty like the mountains, we pray to be reminded that our help comes from You, the maker of those mountains.

And during times of great trouble and stress and challenge, would you please help us, like Jesus, to lift up our lives and our hearts to You, trusting in Your goodness.  To the average onlooker it might seem like we have been abandoned to our troubles and that there’s no hope for us.  But that is NOT the case. 

We thank You today God that You always hear us and You are ready and willing to work in us and through us to bring about Your blessing.  We pray for faith and strength to keep lifting up our eyes to You, trusting that You will do amazing things.  Amen

Let’s be both comforted and empowered as we lift up our eyes to our Loving Heavenly Father today.