Where Does Our Help Come From? – Psalm 121

Where Does Our Help Come From? – Psalm 121

As we continue through the Lenten season, Christians around the world are united in a period of fasting, self-denial and prayer. Some are seeking answers and guidance for situations in their lives. Many are praying that someone they know who is sick or injured will be healed. Most of us are also praying for the salvation of lost friends and family. The Lenten season should be a time of not just “giving something up”; we should be deepening our understanding of God’s word and strengthening our relationship through Scripture study and purposeful prayer.

As we study the Psalms, we find some of the most powerful prayers in the Bible. One of those mighty prayers can be found in Psalm 121:

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.
He will not let your foot slip—
He who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, He who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm—
He will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

What a marvelous prayer! It is a wonderful response to the question: Where does my help come from? Our help comes from God. He is our ever-present help in trouble, our defender, provider and constant companion. We have a gracious, compassionate and loving Father in Heaven who not only desires our prayers to Him, He is also in prayer with us. 

This season is a time when Christians around the world prepare to commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. As Christ was preparing to go through the most grueling experience anyone ever has, He prayed for YOU! Yes, He had YOU in mind. John chapter 17 records these words of the man who not only died for our sin, He cared enough to pray for our well-being:

I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given me, for they are Yours. All I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine. And glory has come to Me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your Name, the Name You gave me, so that they may be one as We are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that Name You gave Me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

And …

I am coming to You now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of My joy within them. I have given them Your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the Truth; Your Word is Truth. As You sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify Myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

It is an awesome thing to know that as He was facing the greatest challenge of His life, Jesus was concerned about US! You and me! Wow. We know from Scripture that while we were sinners Christ died for us. We also see that before He knit us together in our mothers’ womb, He prayed for us. He knew us. He loved us. Hebrews 5:7 reads: “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission.“

Jesus and the Holy Spirit continue to pray when we pray. They along with the entire Heavenly Court are our intercessors before the Father with words and groans we cannot understand. Christ sits at the Father’s right hand, carrying our petitions to the One who can truly meet and supply every need … our Heavenly Father.

Whenever you pray, you can have faith that your prayer offered in faith to Jesus is powerful and effective. If you are in need of answers, are facing a challenge or burden that seems overwhelming, feeling alone, unloved or without hope, meditate on these prayers in the Psalms as well as in the Book of John. Allow them to speak to your heart. As you pray, remember that the One you are praying to not only died for your sins — He is praying for you. Where does our help come from? Our help comes from the Lord! Amen.

Written by Dean Marini

See also the Strongest Psalm Prayer of Protection HERE