Where do you go for protection? Some pull out a gun. Others seek a spouse or parent. Still others invest in cameras and security systems. Others turn to their bank account and investments. Don’t forget about those who run to the government for the fix to all problems great and small. Government receives its authority from God. Money is fleeting. Security systems, weapons, and trusted people can all be blessings to us, but, ultimately, we must run to the One in control of our dangers. God is aware of our calamities and threats. Before our hands grab our guns, our minds must run to the Protector on high. Catastrophe will reveal where your confidence lies. Hard rains will expose your foundation.
Psalm 91 gives us a comforting picture of the one who finds his PROTECTion in the Lord in the midst of difficult times.
- Seek God’s Presence.
- See God as your Refuge.
- Live under His Outstretched wings.
- Flee to your strong Tower.
- Be Established in the Lord.
- Call upon God for help.
- Trust in God.
Continually seek God’s Presence.
“The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1 CSB). Living under God’s protection and dwelling in His shadow carry the idea of being in His presence. Abiding in His presence is the way to live daily, depending on Him continually and developing a habit of seeking His presence. Go to Him today. God to Him now.
See God as your Refuge.
“I will say concerning the Lord, who is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust” (Psalm 91:2 CSB). A refuge is a safe place to run and a safe place to live. Your safe place is in God. Where are you running?
Live under His Outstretched wings.
“His huge outstretched arms protect you—under them you’re perfectly safe; His arms fend off all harm” (Psalm 91:4 The Message). The picture is of baby birds living under a mama bird’s outstretched wings of protection. We are sheltered in the arms of God. When we run to other things for our protection, we’re leaving our real protection. Run to Him and stay there.
Flee to your strong Tower.
“I will say concerning the Lord, who is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust” (Psalm 91:2 CSB). Our God is a fortress for us. He is a strong tower of defense and safety. Why do we run to other places?
Be Established in the Lord.
“Because you have made the Lord—my refuge, the Most High—your dwelling place, no harm will come to you…Because he has his heart set on Me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows My name” (Psalm 91:9-10,14 CSB). The psalmist refers to people who have been established in the Lord. These are not fly by night Christians. These are people who have become fixated on the Father and reliant on the Redeemer. They live and dwell with God on their minds.
Call upon God for help.
“Because he has his heart set on Me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows My name. When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble” (Psalm 91:14-15 CSB). If God knows what we need, then why would we need to call upon Him. Coming to a place of calling for help brings us to humility. “God opposes the proud but He gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6 NET Bible).
Trust in God.
“I will say concerning the Lord, who is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust” (Psalm 91:2 CSB). The basis for all this is faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. We are saved by grace through faith and we must live that way afterward. When we start trusting other things or people to deliver us, we’ve just stepped off the bridge into turbulent waters. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2 NIV 1984). The One who did that for us is able to be trusted in every season of our lives. Keep your eyes on Him.
This week you’ll read…
2 Kings 15-21: “He [Hezekiah] trusted in the Lord God of Israel; in this regard there was none like him among the kings of Judah either before or after.” (2 Kings 18 in The NET Bible).
1 Chronicles 15-21: “Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face always” (1 Chronicles 16 in The Christian Standard Bible). What would happen if we followed this one command each day?
Psalms 91-95: “For he will give his angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways. They will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone” (Psalms 91 in The Christian Standard Bible). The devil quoted this to Jesus as he tempted Him to jump off of the temple in Jerusalem. Devil, you were out of your league.
Mark 15-16: “When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side; they were alarmed. ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he told them. ‘You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they put Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter, “He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there just as He told you.”’” (Mark 16 in The Christian Standard Bible).
- July 15 (Mon):
- July 16 (Tues):
- July 17 (Wed):
- July 18 (Thurs):
- July 19 (Fri):
- July 20 (Sat):
- July 21 (Sun):
CSB are daily readings linked to The Christian Standard Bible on BibleGateway.com.
MSG are daily readings linked to The Message Bible on BibleGateway.com.
NLT are daily readings linked to The New Living Translation on BibleGateway.com.
Thoughts on Life and Jesus 