Psalm 121 - A Psalm of Trust (Reorientation)

by Pastor Paul Dugan

Try entering into prayer with this three-part rhythm:

Part 1

Become present to the presence of God:

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2 ESV).

Pause in silence before God. Practice breathing slowly and deeply. As you inhale, invite the Holy Spirit to fill every part of your being- your body, mind, imagination, affections and emotions. As you exhale, release any burdens you are carrying into this time of prayer. Repeat this breathing prayer until you have brought your whole self -‘as is’ -before the presence of God.

Reflect on the joys and challenges of the day. What are you thankful for? Where did you see God at work? What do you lament? What do you need to confess?

Optional prayer of approach: ‘Lord, though fear assails me, you have not left me as an orphan in this world… Keeper of my soul, when shame and sorrow hang heavy about me, when the day becomes too much to bear, when the quiet of the night makes room for lying voices- shelter me in your presence. May my eyes behold you, Lord: Helper. Creator. Sustainer. Defender.’ (Endless Grace, by Ryan Whitaker Smith and Dan Wilt: Psalm 121).

Part 2

Slowly read from Psalm 121 (ESV) out loud: (for audio versions click here)

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.

    From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.

Part 3

Use your own words to pray Psalm 121 back to God:

Begin by personalizing the pronouns in the psalm, turning the words about God into a prayer directly to God. For example, v. 2 (‘My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth’) becomes ‘My help comes from YOU, Lord, maker of heaven and earth.’ Pray your way through the psalm in this way.

Then gather these thoughts into your own psalm of trust:

  • “Lord, you are my…

  • “I depend on you to…

  • “Without you, I am…

  • “Even when…, I trust you.

  • “I am confident that you will… 

The psalms were originally written as lyrics, as prayers set to music. Throughout the history of Israel and the church, the people of God have sung the psalms. Song invites us to internalize the Word of God with the whole self- body, mind, imagination, emotions and affections. Take time to listen to a version of Psalm 121 set to music. Try taking the psalm song with you into your day.

from the album ‘Praise and Arrows’ (2014) by All Sons and Daughters. allsonsanddaughters.como

Music by Rivers and Robots (2021). riversandrobots.com

from the album ‘The Psalms Project Vol. 2’ (2013) by Luke Lynas and Shane Heilman. thepsalmsproject.com