Rev. Dr. Marcus D. Allen, Senior Pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Madison, WI, spoke to the New Year’s Eve awaiting Congregation from the Book of Psalms, Psalm 121 1-8, entitled I am Ready for the Journey.

In the book of Psalms, a collection of sacred songs and poems, Dr. Allen describes how different Psalms serve various purposes, including offering praise, expressing gratitude, seeking guidance, and finding comfort in times of trouble.

Psalm 104	Thanksgiving
Psalm 145:3	Hymm & Praise
Psalm 13	Lament- express gruesome distress, asking God for intervention. It is a complaint, a plea for help.  The writer trusts in God. It allows us to see we don’t have to question God. We can ask him a question. We tell him about how we feel about our circumstances
Psalm 121	Song of Ascent. Filled with hope and anticipation. God’s faithfulness and longing to be in God’s presence. It is a Spiritual Elevation.
	Psalm 121: 1 “I will lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.” The Lord shall be and will be. He will never leave his people in a low place. A low place could have graduated from school and can’t get a job in his field. Nevertheless, trust in His possession. I will lift mine eyes to the hills. All my help comes from the Lord. The Lord has power over all.
	Psalm 121: 3 “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.” He won’t let you slip when you’re walking through the pain.  Dr. Allen referred to his relative’s analogy of walking on a rough terrain. If you walk on a slippery slope, you could fall. If you’re walking on high terrain, place one foot on it and keep climbing. God will keep your foot and allow you to keep on climbing.

Dr. Allen expounded that God never slumbers nor sleeps. He guides one’s feet. His confidence is His protection.  The Lord is your keeper, watching over you and keeping his people from danger. While Dr. Allen reflected on his military career, one person was on high at a higher level terrain, watching the soldiers below. The person elevated about the crowd could see any upcoming danger and tell the soldiers what they could not see.

Dr. Allen reminded the parishioners that He is your keeper. He looks out for you. He’s your shade.

The closer you are to it, the more shade you receive. God is our shade; he blocks the head from taking you out. He recalls the life of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade. The verb IS means not just currently but continuously, immediately, and always, providing a constant source of comfort and protection.

You can be secure in His Presence. He’s a Doctor in the sick room, a Lawyer in the courtroom, a Promise Keeper, and a Waymaker. His presence is a fortress, a place of safety and refuge.

Dr. Allen’s final Summation:

“He preserves me in my coming in and going out.

He preserves us all year long, not just in moments of need but continuously, sustaining us through every step of our Journey.”

Dr. Allen is a preacher, pastor, father, husband, and author of I Got Next.

Special thanks to Pastor John Wesley McVicker, Sr., and Executive Pastor Treyvon Sinclair for inviting Dr. Marcus Allen to bring a prophetic word. 

Pastor John Wesley McVicker said, “I preached that Psalm several times, and I didn’t know all that was in there.”