Have you ever noticed that when you are trying to recall something, you tend to look up?

Recently, I learnt that science suggests that we should look up at different points in our days to keep ourselves alert.

This simple activity is said to have profound effects on our energy levels and can combat lethargy.

It elevates our mood they say; and causes a reset in our focus.

We don’t think about this consciously but it makes sense doesn’t it?

When we look up, there are less things to distract us.

Our technologically-dependent lifestyle nowadays too keep us constantly glued to our devices, which more often than not, causes us to lower our heads.

It must be quite a disappointing view from an aerial view.

It also wasn’t that long ago that people prided themselves on having sturdy handshakes and valuing eye-contact.

But alas, we are losing basic human connection.

Is it a wonder then that mental health decline is at an all time high globally?

Look Up In Gratitude

While this simple tip is thrilling and super appreciated for its practical benefits, we believers have another reason to keep our gaze up.

We get to fix our eyes on our Lord.

Something about looking up (and sometimes out the window) and just beholding the beauty of God’s marvelous sky grounds me in gratitude.

When we do this, it is not hard to see the perfection that exists all around us.

Even if one lives in literal slums, there is a perfect, ever-changing canvas for those who shift their gaze upwards.

You see friend, our God is not just Creator, He is an Artist.

The best there ever was or will be too.

He uses perfect hues, contrasts and gradients and He surely knows just how much texture is needed for every inch of His sky art.

His masterful artistry extends to us too no?

Praise Break

This song popped in my head while penning this post.

The song I really want to share to complement this post will be at the end but this one provides a worthy praise break.

Enjoy

10 Bible Verses To Encourage Us to ‘Look Up’

While looking up will benefit both believers and non-believers, there is a refreshing for those of us who are looking up with spiritual eyes.

We get an added bonus and this is priceless.

Here are some scriptures that we can meditate on as we embrace this liberating activity of looking up and beholding our Lord.

⁴ One thing have I asked of the Lord,

    that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

    all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

    and to inquire in his temple.

Psalm 27:4

² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:18

² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Colossians 3:2

³ You keep him in perfect peace

    whose mind is stayed on you,

    because he trusts in you.

Isaiah 26:3

²⁵ Let your eyes look directly forward,

    and your gaze be straight before you.

Proverbs 4:25

¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:14

⁷ Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

Revelations 1:7

1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 Corinthians 5:1

³¹ but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

  (and)  they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

* brackets added by me

Look Up…There is Hope

When life seems to be caving in as it inevitably does, let us never lose hope.

We get to cling to the hope that is Jesus.

Let this act of looking up now become an intentional act.

Think of it as worship.

Think of it as self-care even.

Use it as an opportunity to practice being still as the Word tells us.

Inhale His goodness and exhale your problems.

Take in His artwork and greet a bird or two.

Let the sun shine on your face if you can and worship our King through this simple act of just looking up.

This life-giving activity can be a very brief or you can stretch the moment out for as long as you like.

You can use turn it into a visualization exercise too after taking in the majesty before you.

Do You Know This Song?

There are quite a few versions of this super anointed song available.

Every rendition is powerful but I will share my favorite with you.

Tori Kelly sings this so beautifully.

I hope it tugs at your soul as it does mine and brings you to the feet of our God in unabashed worship.