I Lift My Eyes

61. I Lift My Eyes

I love Psalm 121 and particularly love those closing verses: The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore. Isn’t that a promise and a half?

When I’m having a frustrating day or week, I try to remember to sing this version that I wrote of Psalm 121. It fits the tune of the hymn “Alas and Did My Savior Bleed.” I sing it slowly and relish it, and what I’ve learned is that after I finish singing it, I’m breathing differently and generally feeling less frustrated. The psalm helps put my life in order again.

Psalm 121 – I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

I lift my eyes, lift them to the hills,

From where will my help come?

My help does come, help comes each day

From God, who made heav’n and earth.

—

God will not let your foot be moved;

God keeps you and will not sleep,

The very God who keeps Israel

Will neither sleep or slumber still.

—

Your keeper is the Lord your God,

God is your right hand shade.

The sun will not strike you by day,

And moon will not strike you by night.

—

Your God will keep you from evil still,

God will keep your life, and then

The Lord will keep your going out

And coming in forevermore.

—

Words © Copyright 2002 by Ann Freeman Price

Tune: Alas and Did My Savior Bleed, No. 294, United Methodist Hymnal