Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.

Have you ever been on a road trip? Whether it is just to grandma's house, to the beach, to the mountains, or even to a football game in the beautiful city of Starkville, Mississippi (Let the record show I am a proud alum and Bulldog). Regardless of where you are traveling or traveling from, there is one thing we all tend to have in common. We tend to listen to music on these trips. Whether you are team Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud, or of an older cut of cloth, Pandora, we all listen to music as we travel. 

This trend of listening to music is not new by any means; as long as people have traveled from place to place, we have passed the time through music. This is especially true in your Bible as well. These Psalms that we read are not just words on a page, but Psalms sung to the Most High. Some were sung in congregations, some were sung as prayers, and there are psalms specifically written for traveling! Today, we got to read two of these. Fun Fact: If the words Song of Ascents are written under the psalm, it means it was sung as the Israelites traveled to Jerusalem. 

See, back in the day, Israel was a large kingdom that stretched about 100 miles from top to bottom. Israelite men were required to come to Jerusalem to worship 3 times a year for 3 different feasts. If you don't believe me, see for yourself (Deuteronomy 16:16). This is fine if you live near Jerusalem, but imagine living 50 miles north, pretty crazy tri-annual reunion, huh? But out of faithfulness, these men did it, and they would sing psalms like you just read on the way.

I am not just telling you this as some fun tidbit of information, though. As cool and interesting as this is, there is a purpose. In Psalm 121, the psalmist describes crying out to God for help. The road to Jerusalem was neither easy nor safe. The psalmists remind the singer that God is not a God of one place or one area, as many believed gods to be back in the day. The God of Israel (our God) travels with us, goes where we go. When we cry to Him, He is there! This song is a reminder to the people that as they come to worship God, He is already with them as they seek Him. 

It does not end there; we continue reading the following psalm. We see it as a reminder to pray for the people of Jerusalem and Israel. See, David knew that for Israel to do well and prosper, its people must be focused on God. These psalms were not just merely to pass the time of the journey, but were prayers and reminders. The psalms were preparing the hearts of the people as they traveled to Jerusalem so they could worship God wholeheartedly. 

Now it is time for the question of how songs sung by Israelites 3000ish years ago apply to my life today as a Christian living in America? Well, these songs, like those for the Israelites, can be reminders for us as well. Though I am not telling you to sing these on your daily commutes to work and school, we are called to meditate on the Word of God. Are we just reading these because it is "what I am supposed to do every morning," or are we reading to better tune our hearts to God? Am I praying for the protection of myself and my family in times of trouble? Am I reminding myself of God's faithfulness to His children? Am I praying that my heart is growing closer to God? Am I remembering what I read and thinking back on it throughout the day?

There are all questions to ponder as you continue to go through your day after you read God's word. I know this is something I struggle with as well. It can be easy to forget what you read about, even an hour later. That is why I want to challenge you to reflect on what you read throughout the day. Have it written on your heart, abide in Christ. As you go through your week, prepare your heart for worship each day in anticipation of time with God. When this seems hard, and life is beating you down, remember Psalm 121 that we read today, "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." When you feel tempted or weak, remind yourself that God is with you. Be encouraged that the God of the Universe is with you! Meditate on this today!

Challenge: Memorize Psalm 121:1-2, and meditate on it throughout the day.

Advanced Challenge: Memorize the entirety of Psalm 121.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God's Word.

• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today's passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises?
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you?
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.