I will lift up my eyes to the hills — From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. – Psalm 121: 1-2

The fireworks of the Fourth of July and the hoopla of this perennial national holiday can be traced to July 4, 1776. It was then that the American colonists declared their independence from King George and English tyranny. They no longer needed England. They no longer wanted England. They no longer loved England. They no longer looked to England. They were breaking all ties and prepared to stand on their own, even at the risk of war.

It is interesting to note, though, that when it comes to those of us who know and love God, the last thing we would do is declare our independence from Him. If anything, on the day that our nation celebrates its declaration of independence, we must make a declaration of dependence.

The psalmist got it right in Psalm 121. According to him, we are dependent upon God:

1. To help us. (vs. 1-2)
I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

2. To keep us. (vs. 3-5)

3 He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper;

3. To shade us. (v. 6)
The Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.

4. To preserve us. (vs. 7-8) v7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. v8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.

On a national holiday like The Fourth of July, millions look to government, but every day we look to and depend upon God.