Lift Your Eyes: Daily Invitations to Behold Christ in Motherhood

by Whitney Newby, Sally Clarkson (foreword)

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?” —Psalm 121:1

As moms, we spend a lot of time looking at our phones, at the toddler at our feet, at our mounting to-do lists. We also gaze to the side, envious of what others have. We might even look behind us, nostalgic about the past, or ahead in hope for a more manageable future. But what if God, through his Word, is gently placing his hand under our chins and lifting our eyes toward him?

Derived from Psalm 121, these 40 devotions will help you lift your eyes from motherhood’s trials and fix them upon God’s character and strength. Alongside stunning, original watercolor illustrations, Whitney Newby provides verses, personal stories, and Scripture-based reflections that will encourage you amid motherhood’s unique challenges.

These concise devotions offer powerful reminders of God’s promises whenever and wherever you need them. When you fix your eyes on him and know him as your Helper, Comforter, Shepherd, and Sustainer, you can move forward with purpose and hope in your mothering journey.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Faith, Christian, Devotional, Religion

208 pages, Hardcover

Published March 18, 2025

Reviews

[Blessing Bloodworth (naptimereaders) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such an encouragement for moms of any season, but especially those in the younger years of raising a family. Whitney’s insightful biblical encouragements based on Psalm 121 compel moms to lift their eyes to Christ as they walk through every facet of their motherhood journey.

Isn’t it true that Motherhood is full? It’s full of both joy and trials. And often those circumstances change very quickly. But one thing that never changes is the steadfast love of the Lord. We all need this constant reminder because our fickle hearts are prone to forget. We need the reminder of His steadfast love, His faithfulness, His grace and mercy that are new every morning. In this book, Whitney shares lessons and truths she’s learned along her own motherhood journey all while pointing you to the abundant source of The Truth for ultimate guidance and sustenance. In her characteristic gentleness, she’ll encourages you to LIFT YOUR EYES to behold Christ as your Help, your Provider, the One who sees, your Protector, your Keeper, your Comfort, your Shepherd, & your Sustainer.

It’s exquisitely designed with a high-quality hard cover and filled with 60 watercolor paintings done by the author herself.
Thank you to Harvest House Publishers for the complimentary book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

[Shannon Evanko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I encourage you to read this, but also to read a physical copy.

Whitney has made gorgeous art to meet your eyes on nearly every page of this precious devotional.

She speaks as a mom of experience, coming alongside other moms to encourage them in Christ. She encouraged me to fight sin, be where my feet are and keep my eyes on Jesus. I enjoyed this devotional so much.

[Leilani Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most encouraging books in the midst of motherhood that I have ever read. I read it slowly and savored each entry. The short and gentle reminders to keep my eyes always turned to Christ were always needed, and the rich lists of book recs keep me eager to read on.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I HIGHLY recommend this book!! It's one of the best books I've ever read as a Mother. Truly such an encouragement to my heart - I looked forward to reading it every morning! Whitney is so wise and shared so much truth in these pages. Every Mom should grab this one!!

[Maj Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I have found that my empty cup is the holy place where my great need and God’s lavish grace meet.
Where does our help come from? It comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Let’s lift our eyes to Him.”

Motherhood exposes a lot of things in us, very prominently, our need for a helper.
In this beautifully laid out devotional, Whitney encourages moms to lift their eyes to Christ — the true source of their help amid the daily struggles and realities of momhood. Knowing Him, the true source of our help, will empower us through the Spirit to run the race of motherhood well. And amid times of great sorrow or loss, God always promises us Himself and His presence.

Whitney’s book reminds us that as moms, when we are able to lift our eyes up to Christ, remembering all He has done for us, we can move forward with purpose, knowing Christ is there to help us every step of the way. This devotional is based upon Psalm 121 and features stunning watercolor done by Whitney herself.

The world and society likes to tell moms that “you can’t pour from an empty cup” and in order to be a good mom, you have to fill you own cup, with more alone time or maybe more self care. But Whitney shows us in her book that while yes, those things are nice and a rare luxury to enjoy in motherhood sometimes, we CAN serve joyfully out of our emptiness because God promises to fill us up with Him and by His strength.
“I have found that my empty cup is the holy place where my great need and God’s lavish grace meet. It’s where He has repeatedly proven that in my weakness, He is strong.” If we look to the example of Christ, we find He was repeatedly being strengthen and replenished by time alone with the Father in order that he may be poured out.

“What we need more than a fresh cup of coffee, an hour alone, or more sleep—is to know the Source of our help. We need His living Word to shape our perspective, remind us of our identity, and equip us for the holy work before us. We need Him.”

[Ashley Bigley · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many good reminders of who God calls us to be and how to keep our eyes on Him during the hard, stretching, overwhelming times in motherhood. While her examples are geared towards mothers, the truths are applicable to any Christian.

[Amanda (The Little Book Spot) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so calming! Every time I reach for it, I feel myself begin to unwind. Whitney becomes like a friend, sharing honestly about the ups and downs of motherhood and speaking into so many of the struggles we face: anger, fear, overwhelm, exhaustion, and more. More than once, I found myself picking up my Bible to look up the Scriptures she included—highlighting, lingering, and carrying those truths with me throughout the day. It often felt like each devotion was written just for me, exactly what I needed right then.

The Psalms have always been a comfort to me so I enjoyed breaking down Psalm 121 to reveal God’s incredible character.

And of course, the watercolor paintings throughout are absolutely beautiful! They make the whole book feel so peaceful and refreshing. I included some here and couldn’t pick a favorite!

Every mom needs this kind of reminder in her hands. A gentle but powerful call to lift our eyes and lay our burdens at the feet of Jesus.

Thank you to @harvesthousepublishers for sending me a copy of this lovely book to read and review!

[Kelsey Brush · Rating 5 out of 5]

An encouraging read going through the ebbs and flows of daily motherhood.

[Charity Lambeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely devotional with encouragement for each day.

[Danica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thankful for this! Easily the most wonderful, encouraging, theologically-sound book on motherhood I’ve ever read. I’ll certainly be returning to it in the future, and I look forward to gifting copies to friends.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still need to finish this, but I anticipate it being a 5. It's just lovely. Not too long ago a friend asked me if what books I would recommend for a new mother. Besides Little Women, I had none to give. Parenting books can offer a lot of advice but whether it's worth anything or not requires shuffling through many pages and opinions. However, this one is not a parenting book. So far, it's been like a balm and a motivator at the same time. Though I would not say I have young children anymore, I find myself taking notes and ready to implement something she suggests. In addition to the gentle encouragement, she has included beautiful watercolor paintings that only aid the reader in experiencing the joy and peace she herself has found in the Lord. I'm pretty sure my new recommendation for new mothers will be this and Little Women. I'll update once I've finished....

Update: It's a 5 and a hearty recommendation.

[Diana Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I already have a daily devotional I’m working through so I read this straight through like a narrative—you could do either and still be blessed. This was a fresh, non-patronizing blessing on mothers and motherhood through the lens of different Psalms. Validation of the lows, celebration of the highs, and suggestions of how to cherish it all.. even the monotonous and mediocre. Whitney’s peaceful demeanor seeps through her writing and through her watercolors that she has sprinkled throughout the book. I really really enjoyed this. 💛

[Jorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know sometimes devotionals can be a little trickier than “normal” books to review because they can be such a personal thing but I will tell you ~ this was one of the BEST “Mom” devotionals I have ever read, and I’ve read my fair share of them. I can’t begin to tell you how much this ministered to my heart when I needed it the most. I really took my time reading through it and I’m so glad I did….this devotional is one that I will be constantly suggesting to any and all moms or moms-to-be that I know!

It is absolutely worth every penny to have this resource on your “mom” shelf! We all need the daily reminders to constantly lift our eyes onto God, the One who leads, loves, sustains, provides, helps and is Sovereign over all and this book does it beautifully 💛

[Hannah Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lift Your Eyes by Whitney Newby feels like a breath of fresh air to a weary mama's heart. This is one of those books that I feel like I should read again as soon as I finish. Not only are there beautiful watercolor illustrations, it is full of scripture. Whitney has great advice for how to tackle the hard of motherhood by leaning in and "lifting our eyes" to God.
I really enjoyed the formatting of this book.
There are eight parts for the eight verses of Psalm 121, each highlighting an attribute of God.
I cannot sing enough praises for the beauty and richness of Lift Your Eyes.

[Leah Rosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was somewhat skeptical of yet another book of short devotions for moms. This book, however, exceeded every expectation I had for it. I was refreshed, encouraged, and challenged so many times while I slowly read through book between diaper changes, homeschool classes, and dinner prep. It was the perfect thing for me to pick up and refocus my mind when I only had five minutes. I especially appreciated the authors focus on God. This is not a light and fluffy devotional. It’s deep, theological, and highly practical,

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️😭
I will be keeping this book with my Bible to tap into in the mornings because it has been one of my favorite parts of my morning. Whitney is raw and real in this and met me in a place I desperately needed it. She talks about how an empty cup, is the most holy place and where she has to tap into Jesus (we all need to!) to get through the day and pour into her children. She acknowledges that even by the end of her day, that cup is empty again, even if she filled it in the morning.

I will be gifting this book to everyone I know!!

[Maddy Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the type of devotional that speaks real truth to you. It’s a “motherhood” devotional but with very real and practical truth that isn’t written in a cheesy manner. This is something that I would come back to annually. I read it like a book slowly, savoring each chunk of text. It felt applicable and hit the nail on the head for the amount of things I’ve been feeling in the midst of motherhood and in my wanderings as a believer who struggle with faith on occasion.

[Michelle Cooksey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an encouraging and truth filled devotional! I loved reading it after doing my daily Bible study to start my days off with my heart and eyes looking up. I loved how relatable her included stories were, and how she walked through truths about God as sustainer, provider, etc.

[Sarah Maples · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fact that it took me 9 months to get through this 30-day devotional is on me, not the book lol. This is SO good, and one that I will return to in motherhood. So much practical wisdom and encouragement to actually lift my eyes to the Lord, specifically in the context of motherhood.

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an encouraging devotional for moms but any believer, really. I will definitely treasure this book as a resource full of God’s promises and a reminder to lift my eyes and remember where my help comes from.

[Kristin Sponaugle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most encouraging, and relatable, devotionals for moms. I highly recommend it!

[Gabby Vivenes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the intentionality in this book for mothers for all seasons, I enjoyed reading it even with my children, such a refreshment.

[Dani Munoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Let's turn our eyes away from our self-care-obsessed culture and instead lift them to Jesus, who was poured out as an offering for us.
Let's shift our perspective from "How can I fill my cup?" to "How will Jesus meet me in this low place when my cup is empty?"

[Haley Marlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, and recommend it to any mom. Very rich and also practical.

[Hallie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best devo I’ve read in motherhood so far! Perfect for postpartum when you only have 15-20 min!

[Ccpowlesshaw.ca · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than any other book, this is the one I’d like to gift to all my mom friends, 10/5 stars.

[Emily Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a treasure this book would have been as a first-time mom. Grateful for this resource and the sweet gift it will be to others!

[Lauryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an encouraging book for motherhood and keeping our focus on Christ. Lift Your Eyes is not a parenting book but has a lot of principles to apply to parenting. Whitney’s words can encourage and shape you into the mother God has called us to be. I enjoyed it so much that I’ve gifted it to many others! It’s an easy read for those in the little years of motherhood, you can pick it up and put it down as needed! What a blessing!

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and publisher for the #gifted book!*

Title: Lift Your Eyes
Author: Whitney Newby
Genre: Nonfiction/Devotional/Motherhood

Review: “I pray that this book will remind and equip you to raise your eyes to your steady, unchanging God, who promises to keep you because of what God has already done…In him, we find the life-sustaining rest, provision, strength, and wisdom we need for our journey as moms.”

When I first saw this book, I knew I had to get my hands on it, and I’m so glad that I did. Whitney has written a book that would benefit moms everywhere in any season, and really any woman because it’s all about lifting our eyes to the One who holds us all. You’ll dive deep into Psalm 121. You’ll see the historical context of this passage and the beautiful character of our God on every page. Plus you’ll get gorgeous artwork that helps you reflect on the truth you’re learning. I loved that each chapter had different resources and practical encouragement at the end. Plus as Whitney said, the chapters are “mercifully short.” We’re busy moms after all! If you need encouragement or just a reminder to lift your eyes to Jesus (and don’t we all?), this is a book that I would recommend you keep on yourself for years to come and reference often.

PS - this would make a great baby shower/new mama gift! I’ve got another copy coming today to give away 🙌

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*I was given a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Zorina Shepard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you looking for a light but encouraging devotional as a mother?

This devotional is so beautifully done! It focuses on Psalm 121 and reminds mothers how the Lord is our help, provider, protector, keeper, comforter, shepherd, and sustainer. He is Jehovah El Roi, the God who sees. This devotional shows how this passage of Scripture applies to us as mothers. There were so many good chapters that stuck out to me. I also loved all of the book recommendations the author provides throughout. This devotional reminds mothers that no matter the struggles we face, we can look to Christ. This book is a balm to a weary mama's heart. It isn't a very heavy book and is perfect for the mother who needs to be reminded to life up your eyes to the Lord as our help. It is also a book you can read out of order as well. It is flexible in that you can jump around to the topic you are needing most at the moment whether it be needing help when you feel lonely, or are having a hard time with laziness, or when church hurts. This book would make such a great gift as well!

"Whenever you doubt that God is there, remember Hagar's story. Or when you feel unseen, remember that his eyes roam the earth, looking to strengthen those who are committed to him. He sees you. He knows you. And he has never, for a single moment, taken his eyes off you."
-Whitney Newby

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.