Screens Off, Eyes Up!
June 25, 2025
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Psalm 121
How much time do you spend looking at a screen each day? Living in the digital era—in which we are often held captive by our smartphones, laptops, and the like—it can be easy to forget to pause, take a deep breath, and simply look up!
In Psalm 121, the psalmist began a moving song of worship with the declaration, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains” (verse 1). The remainder of the psalm proclaims the Lord’s role as a faithful helper and watchful protector:
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 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 over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (Psalm 121)
While the words of this passage certainly offer a comforting assurance about the Lord’s steadfast presence, it turns out there are also some fascinating benefits to the practice of lifting our eyes, as modeled by the psalmist. Studies in the ever-growing field of neuroscience suggest that the position of our eyes and the direction of our gaze affect brain activity. And guess what? It appears that looking upward stimulates certain neurobiological processes that support well-being, including activating regions of the brain associated with mood regulation.
The Word of God is so much more than a beautifully written story. Cover-to-cover, it offers supernatural wisdom that precedes science and supports wellness from the inside out! Schedule some time this week to take a break from screens and look up. In that time, recite scripture, pray, sing, or simply declare who you know God to be. In exercising a spiritual discipline while fixing your gaze upwards, you’ll help to rewire and better regulate your brain!
Read, Reflect, Write:
What are your current daily screen time habits? How do you feel when you’ve been looking at a screen for a long period of time?
Reflect on a recent moment in which you felt upset or overwhelmed. What might have been different if you had taken some time to pause and “look up”—both physically and spiritually?
Read Psalm 121. In what ways have you experienced the Lord as a source of help in your life? Take a few minutes to turn your eyes upwards and worshipfully declare how He has helped you.