My Dear Friend,
It is my sincere prayer that today’s Word of Encouragement will be a salve for your soul. May the Lord richly bless you with His love and grace. As always, you are loved and you are missed! I pray to see you soon.
Love in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Mark
“I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.’” Psalm 91:2 (NIV)
“If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’ and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.” Psalm 91:9-10 (NIV)
“Those who love Me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know My name. When they call to Me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation’” Psalm 91:14-15 (NRSV)*
Psalm 91: God’s Daily Prescription for My Soul
During these months of turmoil and uncertainty, friends have asked me how I am “staying safe” and how I am “staying sane.” Although I surmise that half the question is rhetorical, I do have a sincere answer for those who are truly concerned:
Every day and every night, I strengthen my faith in God’s protection and His ability and willingness to guard my mind by reading Psalm 91. I do this as soon as I wake up, and then again before I go to sleep.
Of all the Psalms, there is none more replete with encouragement than Psalm 91. Even though it is relatively short, consider all of the descriptions of our magnificent God in it:
In verse 1, God is called the Most High and the Almighty.
In verse 2, God is called our Refuge and our Fortress.
In verse 3, God is the One who saves us from the trapper’s snare and from deadly pestilence.
In verse 4, God is our Shield, and the One who acts as a ‘mother hen’ protecting us under feathers and wings.
In verse 9, God is called our Refuge and our Dwelling.
In verse 11, God is called our Guard.
In verse 14, God is called the One who rescues and protects us.
In verse 15, God is called our Deliverer.
In verse 16, God is called the One who satisfies!
When we make this God and all His protective characteristics our own,
We can rest in the shadow of Him (v. 1).
We can trust Him (v. 2).
We need not live in fear of terrors (v. 5).
We need not live in fear of pestilences nor plagues! (v. 6)
But please take note:
What we confess with our mouths first will determine what God says next.
First, the psalmist says, “I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust’” (v. 2). Then, God says to the psalmist,
“Those who love Me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation” (v. 14, NRSV).
God said, “I will protect those who know My name.” His name is Jehovah. And for New Testament believers, His name is also Jesus and Immanuel: “…You are to name Him Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins…and they shall name Him Immanuel, which means, “God is with us.” (Matthew 1:21-23)
But I hear someone saying, “I have been calling on God’s name for many years, and yet, He has not protected me from pains and sorrows.”
God’s promise to protect us who call upon His name is not a promise that we will be spared from all the physical hazards of this present world. But if we will agree to take a daily dose of what God prescribes for us, we can be protected from spiritual – and therefore, emotional – dangers that will cause permanent spiritual and emotional harm.
Right now, many are suffering from what has been called, “soul-fainting.” But it need not be you! “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.” (Psalm 91:7, NIV)
Psalm 91 is the prescription. Take this prescription daily! There are no negative side effects and you won’t need expensive insurance. It’s free!
* Capitals added for personal pronouns referring to God