Finding Refuge in God’s Protection

In a world filled with uncertainties, where each day seems to bring new challenges, fears, and anxieties, Psalm 91 is a powerful reminder of God’s unfailing protection and love. This Psalm is often called the "Soldier’s Psalm" because of its powerful imagery of divine refuge, strength, and defense against danger. It reassures us that no matter what we face, God is our ultimate source of safety. Let’s walk through this psalm and discover the depth of its promises and what it means to dwell in the shelter of the Almighty.

A month ago, I had fallen ill and knew it wasn’t an ordinary cold. I decided to take a Covid test, and sure enough, it came out positive. This was the third time I’d contracted it, so at first, I wasn’t too worried. But on the second night, as I was preparing for bed, an overwhelming sense of fear came over me. I felt a heaviness in my chest, fever and unsettling "what if" thoughts began to fill my mind. At that moment, I heard the Lord tell me to get up and pray.

Through my walk with Him, I've learned that when the Lord tells you to do something, it’s always best to obey. So, despite my headache and discomfort, I got up and found a quiet place to pray. Then, I felt the Lord leading me to pray Psalm 91 over myself. Right away, I understood that He was guiding me into spiritual battle. This wasn’t just a routine prayer; this was a moment of actively trusting His promises, verse by verse, declaring His protection and provision over my life. In that moment, trust became my anchor, reminding me that even in fear, God’s word is my refuge.

Verse 1 begins with an invitation to dwell in God’s shelter. To “dwell” means more than a temporary visit; it means making a home, living closely, and staying in God’s presence. It’s more than occasional prayer or occasional acts of faith. Dwelling in God means cultivating a deep, lasting relationship with Him, where we learn to live in His presence and trust Him completely. The keyword here is trust. According to Merriam-Webster, “trust” is defined as an assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. In other words, trust means placing our confidence in a source that is unwavering, reliable, and steadfast, someone or something we know we can count on. Trust is not just a feeling; it’s a choice to lean into that assurance, especially when circumstances feel uncertain. When I was lying down, I asked myself, 'Will I be okay?' God was showing me that while I prayed, and believed, He was sending divine protection from seen and unseen threats!

Verse 3 says, “Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence” This verse shows us God’s promise of protection from hidden dangers and life-threatening situations. The "fowler’s snare" speaks of traps and deceptions that we may not see coming, and "deadly pestilence" symbolizes physical dangers like illness or disasters. In that moment, I experienced liberation, and I felt my faith rise within me. Where fear wanted to make its way in, faith had established its presence, and boldness filled my spirit. With my weapons of warfare, I was now decapitating principalities and powers with my sword of the Spirit.

In conclusion, breakthrough had come! When I rose from my time of prayer, I was transformed. The headache that had plagued me was gone, the tightness in my chest had lifted, and the voice of the deceiver had vanished. This experience taught me that while we often expect God to act on our behalf, He desires our active participation in the process. We must fight against our doubts and believe in His power to bring about change. Through faith and perseverance, we can experience profound transformation and the freedom that comes from trusting in Him. If we dwell in the secret place of the Most High, we shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.