"I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."  Psalm 121: 1, 2

I had always been taught that the hills here refereed to pagan temples that would often be built on high places. The psalmist is saying do I look to them, no I look to the Lord. However the study notes in the NIV Study Bible pointed out that this was a pilgrimage song. In other words one that would be recited, sung, as pilgrims made their way to Jerusalem. It may have been chanted to oneself, or as a chorus among travelers.

In those days the Jews which lived outside of Jerusalem considered it a duty and honor to travel to Jerusalem, for some this might be a once in a lifetime trip. This psalm speaks both of a desire to come to the Lord, but also the assurance that if I do he will be there for me.

The question is still an important one for us today, "Where are you looking for your assurance?" Do you place more faith in your bank account, or job then in Jesus? When you are in need do you look to the Lord, or to a self-help book? And as we draw near to God is there a sense of his security, his providence, or do we just feel like here is one more obligation I have to add to my already too long to do list?

We don't have to wait a lifetime to make the pilgrimage to Christ. In fact he's already made the trip, the trip to the cross to set us free. When in doubt in your life, he's the one you need to be looking to for help and assurance.

"Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God." Colossians 3:1

Colossians was written at the same time as Philippians. Paul is in Rome under house arrest. Yet even here he is hearing news from the churches and has a great concern for how they are doing in their faith.

Evidently there as a false teaching starting up in Colosse which questioned Christ's position of being all sufficient for our salvation, there were still things we had to do to be good enough. Paul writes this letter to the church there to confront and reassure the Christians that Christ is sufficient and we must be firmly rooted in him. By chapter 3 Paul has laid the foundation of his argument that Christ is all we need and he now stresses our need to really center our lives in Christ, not our own effort.

There are times when we worry if we are good enough, strong enough, just plain doing enough for God. If we only look to ourselves the answer will always be "NO". We aren't enough. But that is exactly why Jesus came in the first place. We aren't enough, but he is. Our life has to be centered in him. So quite looking to yourself, you'll only see failure. Look to Christ and set your heart and mind on something and someone greater.

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

Philippians is written at a time when Paul isn't sure if he will live or die. He is under house arrest in Rome, guarded 24/7 and may at any moment get the news that he is to be executed or released. Yet Philippians is anything but depressing. Twice he reminds his readers to rejoice in the Lord always. Paul is so focused on Christ that nothing else really matters to him.

We will have several verses over this year from Philippians, there are just so many great verses here, but we start with a short verse towards the end of the letter. This verse pretty well sums up Paul's attitude about all that is happening: I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Last week we shared the verse that the Lord is near when we call on him.  Do we truly believe that? What we see in Paul is someone who didn't just talk the talk, but truly walked the walked. It is easy to trust God when everything is going well. Obviously Paul isn't in one of those places. His life is on the line, not just jail, but would he even have enough food to eat. Yet in all this he said he is content.  Why - because it isn't about him, his faith is in Christ, and in Christ he can do all things.

Next time you feel weak, or you don't know what to do, or if you can even do just remember it isn't you, it's Christ in you. Does Jesus have the power, then so do you, because he is the one giving you the strength.  But you must trust him, not yourself.

"For all scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."  -    II Timothy 3:16, 17

Paul, the apostle, is writing to Timothy his young protégé, and this is really a good-bye letter.  Paul knows his time is short and is both challenging and encouraging Timothy to carry on the work of the gospel. Paul reassures Timothy that his life is built on a solid foundation in the holy Scripture.  Paul reminds Timothy that scripture didn't come from men's ideas, but was given to us by God. The purpose of scripture is to teach and guide us in all things.

Too often in our lives we go looking for answers from everywhere but the one place we should. Scripture has a lot to teach us, a lot to show us and to give us direction. But it can't do that if we leave it setting on the shelf gathering dust.

When you wonder what good the Bible is remember this verse, it is good for everything we need to be equipped to carry out God's will in our lives. So taking time to study, learn and apply what it says is of great importance to us (or at least it should be).

"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them."  Psalm 145: 18, 19

Psalm 145 is just a wonderful Psalm of praise written by King David. Throughout this Psalm he not only praises God but tells why he is praising him. Actually that is an important aspect of praise, when we acknowledged something about the person we are praising, why they are worthy of praise.

When you praise God be specific, what is it about his nature you are praising? Or what has he done for you that caused you to pause and give him praise?

Verses 18, 19 are both a promise and a teaching. If you ever wonder if God hears you, know that he does, at least when we are sincere and honest. We can't come to God with hidden agendas or false pretense. It doesn't work any way since God sees right through us.

God knows our heart, he knows our intentions. When we truly come seeking him he is there for us. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him. Don't come with selfish desires, only full of yourself. We need to empty us of us, and seek God. When we do that he not only hears us, but fills us.