1 “I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!
3 He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.
4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never slumbers or sleeps.
5 The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
6 The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon at night.
7 The Lord keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever.”
-Psalm 121 (NLT)
Heavenly Father, this sojourner’s Psalm is often given as a blessing to someone embarking on a dangerous journey. Is that not what many of us are doing as 2018 begins – embarking on a dangerous journey?
2017 brought natural disasters, man-made disasters, political upheavals, financial crises, climate changes – all accompanied by concern, fear, and doubt. However, 2017 also brought empathy, acceptance, and assistance as we witnessed and read about neighbor helping neighbor, country helping country, and people traveling far from home to assist others the world over. Through everything that happened in 2017 there was an outpouring of time, of money, of prayer, and of love to those in need around the globe. Through everything that occurred there was not only help – there was hope.
That hope remains as we look toward this New Year, Lord. Please help us remember throughout 2018 that You are always watching over us and that You are always standing beside us as our protective shade.
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for keeping watch over us as we come and go, both now and forever. Amen.
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