“I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” - Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)

On July 23rd 2021, the world will witness the start of the Summer 2021 Olympics in the city of Tokyo which initially were to be held in 2020 but postponed due to Covid 19. The first Olympics were held in Olympia, Greece, 3000 years ago, in 8 BC and they run up to 4 AD before a lull. In 1894 a visionary French man, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) which organized the first modern Games in Athens in 1896.

Over 10,000 athletes are expected to come together to compete in over 400 events where the first, second, and third-place finishers in each event will win the famous Olympic medals: gold, silver, and bronze, respectively. It is the dream of every major athlete to compete in Olympics and come back home with a medal.

One of the worst thing that can happen to an athlete who has been training for years is to slip, just as he is about to make it. There have been indeed many sad moments where great athletes suffered an injury, forestalling all their dreams. Perhaps it would do well for every athlete not just to rely on his might but look to the Lord. Psalm 121:3 says, “He will not let your foot slip” and surely every athlete must wish so.

But it is not athletes who need the cover of God, all of us do in our different trades and walks. Fortunately He has promised, for “he who watches over you will not let you slumber; indeed who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” ( vv 4).

Today, let us lift up our eyes to the Lord, and bask in His cover. “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 your coming and going, both now and forever” (vv 5-8).

May His name be praised!

Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray that as I lift my eyes to you, you watch my coming and going, and will not let my foot slip, this I pray in Jesus’s name.