Ditch the Distractions

A song of ascents.

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

3 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121 (NIV)

Contemplation:

We are surrounded by so much noise.  Too many empty solutions.  In ancient days the hills and high places surrounding Jerusalem were places once used as altars to pagan deities.  In the approach to Jerusalem, one could see these high places.  Each offering another path, another promise, another solution.  Roads to nowhere.  High places without the Most High.

We are reminded of every distraction that offers an alternative to the worship of the One True God.  We live in an age of distraction.  Information, entertainment, illusion.  Search engine solutions, easily achieved.  Sound without sacrifice or surrender.  So much talking.  So little listening.  Somewhere in the long neglected reservoirs of our souls we know there is something more.  

One thing is needed.   Fix our eyes upon The One who is unbound by time and circumstance and yet is present in them.  In this we remember our help, the only help we will ever need, comes from the Lord.  He alone will keep us.  Let us fix our eyes upon Him, keep climbing steadily and single-mindedly toward His dwelling place.

Question:

What high places in our landscape promise what God alone can deliver?

Prayer:

God, I long to find the holy ground you have set apart for those who seek your way.   Teach me your ways.  Grant me discernment to recognize other paths that do not lead to you.  Paths that promise far more than they could ever deliver.  I forsake the short-lived pleasures of distraction.  Meet me, Lord.  Keep me from harm.  Watch over me.  Bring me into your presence.