Psalm 91 God’s Umbrella Of Protection 21-Day Devotional

Scripture: Psalms 91:1

Where Is My Dwelling Place?

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. —Psalm 91:1

Have you ever been inside a cabin with a roaring fire in the fireplace, enjoying the feeling of safety and security as you watched a storm going on outside? It was a wonderful sensation, knowing you were being sheltered and protected from the storm. That is what Psalm 91 is all about — shelter!

Did you know there is a place in God, a secret place, for those who want to seek refuge? It is a literal place of physical safety and security. In verse one, God is offering us more than protection; it’s as if He personally invites us in to dwell with Him.

I am sure you can think of something that represents security to you. I have a vivid childhood memory of being protected by my dad during a storm at the lake where all we had for cover was a tarp and his big arms holding it over all five of us. It felt so calm to have my dad’s arms around us that even during the storm I never wanted the moment to end.

Our Heavenly Father has a Secret Place in His arms that protects us from the storms raging in the world around us. That Secret Place is literal, but it is also conditional! In verse one, God lists our part of the condition before He mentions the promises included in His part. That’s because our part must come first. In order to abide in the shadow of the Almighty, we must choose to dwell in the shelter of the Most High.

You might call that place of refuge—a Love Walk! This place is found through a relationship with the Father, developed by investing your time to make it very personal. Do you have a secret place for spending time in the presence of God Himself? 

A big step is asking the Lord to help you develop a personal relationship with Him. 

Begin today to pray Psalm 91 out loud. 

Scriptures: Psalms 91:2, Psalms 60:11

What Is Coming Out Of My Mouth?

I will say to the Lord, “My Refuge and my Fortress, my God, in whom I trust!” –Psalm 91:2

Verse 2 says, “I will say…” Note the word “say” in this verse because we must learn to verbalize our trust. We answer back to God what He said to us in the first verse. There is power in saying His Word back to Him! 

We are not told to just think the Word. We are told to say the Word. Joel 3:10 tells the weak to say, “I am a mighty man.” We find great men of God such as David, Joshua, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego declaring their confessions of faith out loud in dangerous situations. Notice what begins to happen on the inside when you say, “Lord, You are my Refuge—You are my Fortress—You are my Lord and my God! It is in You that I put my total trust!” The more we say it out loud, the more confident we become in His protection. Power is released in saying it out loud. When we say it and mean it, we are placing ourselves in His shelter. By voicing His Lordship and His protection, we walk in the door to the secret place. 

God, Himself, becomes our defensive site for us against all invading enemies. He is personally our protection. Promises of protection can be found throughout the Bible, but Psalm 91 is the only place in the Word where all the protection promises are brought together in one collection — forming a covenant written through the Holy Spirit. How powerful that is! 

Have you ever tried to protect yourself from all the bad things that can happen? It’s like trying to keep the whole law. God knows we can’t do it. Psalms 60:11b tells us, “…deliverance by man is in vain.” God must be our source before the promises in Psalm 91 will ever work. 

Verse 2 says, “I will say…”, reminding us to verbalize our trust. 

Pray Out Loud. 

Lord, thank You for the protection promises available in Psalm 91. Help me learn to put my total trust in You as I speak Your Word aloud and believe it in my heart. You are my refuge. In the name of Jesus. Amen 

Pray Psalm 91.

Scriptures: Psalms 91:3, 2 Corinthians 2:11

Two-Way Deliverance

For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. –Psalm 91:3

A fur trapper travels deep into the mountains to bait steel traps in strategic places waiting for some unsuspecting animal to step into the trap. This is a picture of what the enemy does to us. That’s why he is called the trapper! The traps set for us are not there by accident. It is as if your name is on it. They are custom-made, placed, and baited specifically for each one of us. But, like an animal caught in a trap, it is a slow, painful process. You don’t die instantly. You are ensnared until the trapper comes to destroy you. 

The enemy knows what will most likely hook us, and he knows exactly which thought to put into our minds to lure us into the trap. That is why Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 2:11 that we are “…not to be ignorant of the schemes (traps) of the enemy.”

God not only delivers us from the snare laid by the trapper (Satan), but according to the last part of verse three, He also delivers us from the deadly pestilence. Webster’s New World Dictionary says pestilence is “any virulent or fatal disease; an epidemic that hits the masses of people—any deadly disease that attaches itself to one’s body with the intent to destroy.” But God says, “I will deliver you from the deadly disease that comes with the intent to destroy.” 

There are all kinds of enemies: temptations, spiritual enemies, and physical enemies. Do you sometimes feel you have opposition facing you from every side? This verse addresses the enemy’s assignments from both the physical, as well as the spiritual. There are enemies that attack your mind (thoughts), some that attack your body (germs), and some that attack you physically (people). This is your verse that ensures your deliverance from all the varieties of harm. 

Notice the two-fold aspect of this deliverance in verse three: from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. This verse covers being delivered from temptation and being delivered from harm. 

Pray Out Loud.

Lord, what an amazing promise! Thank You for delivering me from traps set by the enemy and from deadly pestilence as I put my trust in You. In the name of Jesus. Amen 

Pray Psalm 91.

Scriptures: Psalms 91:4, Isaiah 40:31

Under His Wings

He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings, you may seek refuge. –Psalm 91:4a

When you picture a magnificent flying bird, it is usually not a chicken that comes to mind. I’ve never seen a chicken pictured in flight—many eagles, but no chickens. We quote the Scripture from Isaiah 40:31, which talks about being borne up on the wings of eagles or with wings like eagles. There is a difference, however, between being “on” His wings and being “under” His wings. This promise in Psalm 91 is not elaborating on the flying wing—but on the sheltering wing. One indicates strength and accomplishment, while the other denotes protection and familiarity. When you picture the warmth of a nest and the security of being under the wings of the nurturing love of a mother hen with chicks, it paints a vivid picture of the sheltering wing of God’s protection that the psalmist refers to in this passage.

Is everyone protected under the wings? Did you notice it says He will cover you with His pinions (feathers), and under His wings, you may seek refuge? Again, it’s up to us to make that decision! We can seek refuge under His wings if we choose to.

Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem… How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. –Matthew 23:37

Notice the contrast between His willingness and our unwillingness—His wanting to against our not willing to—His would against our would not. What an amazing analogy to show us theologically that there is protection offered that we don’t accept!

God is deeply committed to us—yet, at the same time, we can reject His outstretched arms if we so choose. 

Pray Out Loud.

Lord, help my heart to be willing to run to You in faith every time trouble or danger presents itself. May I choose to seek the refuge that You have made available to me. In the name of Jesus. Amen 

Pray Psalm 91.

Scriptures: Psalms 91:4, 2 Timothy 2:13, Ephesians 2:8-9

A Mighty Fortress Is My God

His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. –Psalm 91:4b

It is God’s faithfulness to His promises that is our shield. It is not just our faithfulness! God will be faithful to the promises He has made. When the enemy comes to whisper fearful or condemning thoughts in our mind, we can ward off his attack by saying, “My faith is strong because I know My God is faithful, and His faithfulness is my shield!” 

How often I’ve heard people say, “I can’t dwell in the shelter of God. I mess up and fall short too many times. I feel guilty and unworthy.” God knows all about our weaknesses. That’s why He gave His Son. We can no more earn this protection or deserve it than we can earn or deserve our salvation. The main thing is—if we slip and fall, we must not stay down. Get up, repent, and get back under that shield of protection. Thankfully this verse says it is His faithfulness, not ours, that is our shield.

We must not point to what we’ve done or haven’t done but rather to what Jesus has done for us. We dwell in His shelter by faith in God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). And faith is not hard. It is simply our response to what Jesus has already provided through His Blood. We cannot perform enough good deeds to keep ourselves in His shelter any more than we can do enough to keep ourselves saved. We have to realize we dwell in His shelter, not in our own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. 

For by His doing, you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness… –1 Corinthians 1:30 

There is a difference, however, between making an occasional mistake and staying in willful sin. Self-will and rebellion will keep us out of the secret place of protection because self-will is a wall we build between God and us.

Pray Out Loud.

Lord, Thank You for Your unshakable faithfulness. My faith is strong because I know You are faithful. Your faithfulness is my shield. In the name of Jesus. Amen

Pray Psalm 91.

Scriptures: Psalms 91:5, Romans 10:9-10

I Will Not Fear The Terror

You will not be afraid of the terror by night… –Psalm 91:5a

Note that verses five and six of Psalm 91 cover an entire 24-hour period emphasizing day and night protection. What is more important is that these two verses encompass every evil known to man.

The psalmist divides the list into four categories. The first—terror by night—includes all the evils that come through man: kidnapping, robbery, rape, murder, terrorism, wars…! It is the dread—or horror—or alarm that comes from what man can do to you. God is saying, “You will not be afraid of any of those things…because they will not approach you” (Psalm 91:5-7). The first thing verse five deals with is fear.

It is the goodness of God that He made provision before we ever asked! This is not for everyone; it is for those who know and believe the truth. Over and over, Jesus told us, “Do not fear!” Why do you think He continually reminds us not to be afraid? Because it is through faith in His Word that we are protected—and since fear is the opposite of faith, the Lord knows fear will keep us from operating in the faith that is necessary to receive. It is no wonder God addresses the fear of terror first. 

How do we keep from being afraid? Very simply! Fear comes when we think we are responsible for bringing about this protection ourselves. Too often, we think— “Oh, if I can just believe hard enough, maybe I’ll be protected!” That’s wrong thinking! The protection is already there. It has already been provided, whether we receive it or not. Faith is simply the choice to receive what Jesus has already done. 

Our physical weapons are operated with our hands, but we operate our spiritual weapons with our mouths. Confessing with our mouth and believing with our heart starts with the new birth experience and sets precedence for receiving all of God’s good gifts (Romans 10:9-10). 

Pray Out Loud.

Lord, thank You that I’ll not be afraid of any terror as I abide in the secret place. I put my complete trust in You and say aloud in faith the promises of protection You’ve provided for me. In the name of Jesus. Amen

Pray Psalm 91.

Scriptures: Psalms 91:5, Ephesians 6:12

I Will Not Fear The Arrow

You will not be afraid of the… arrow that flies by day. –Psalm 91:5b

The second category of evil is the arrow that flies by day. An arrow is something that pierces or wounds spiritually, physically, mentally, or emotionally. This category indicates that you are in a spiritual battle zone—specific enemy assignments directed toward your life to defeat you. 

Arrows are deliberately sent by the enemy and meticulously aimed at the spot that will cause the most damage. They are targeted toward the area where our mind is not renewed by the Word of God—perhaps an area where we are still losing our temper, an area where we are still easily offended, or an area of rebellion or fear. 

Seldom does the enemy attack us in an area where we are built up and strong. He attacks us where we’re still struggling. That’s why we must run to God! And when we do battle using our spiritual weapons, his arrows will not approach us.

God tells us in Ephesians 6:12 that we have a “shield of faith to extinguish all the flaming darts of the enemy.” These are not just plain arrows, they are “on fire.” And God doesn’t say we can miss most of them. He says that we can extinguish “all” of them. When arrows are sent to wound us spiritually, physically, emotionally, or financially, God wants us to ask and believe by faith that He will pick us up out of harm’s way and deliver us from calamity.

We have a promise from God telling us not to be afraid of the arrow that flies by day. Assignments will rise up, but don’t be afraid. He has promised to protect us, and He has promised the arrows will not hit their target. 

Pray Out Loud.

Lord, help me to remember to run to You and believe by faith that You will pick me up out of harm’s way and deliver me from trouble as I put my trust in You. Thank You that I will no longer be afraid as I appropriate Your promises in my life. In the name of Jesus. Amen

Pray Psalm 91.

Scripture: Psalms 91:6

I Will Not Fear The Pestilence

You will not be afraid of the pestilence that stalks in darkness. –Psalm 91:6a

If you fight fears of fatal diseases, this is the Scripture for you to take hold of!

The third category of evil that God names is pestilence. This is the only evil He names twice. Since God doesn’t waste words, He must have a specific reason for repeating this promise. God knew the pestilence and the fear that would be running rampant in these end days. The world is teeming with fatal epidemics that are hitting people by the thousands, so God catches our attention by repeating this promise. 

It’s as though God is saying, “I said it in verse three, but did you really hear Me? Just to be sure, I am saying it again in verse six—you do not have to be afraid of the deadly pestilence!” This is so contrary to the world in which we live that we have to renew our thinking before we can comprehend the fact that we do not have to be afraid of the sicknesses and diseases that are epidemic in the world today.

Our inheritance is not limited to what is handed down to us genetically from our ancestors. Our inheritance can be what Jesus provided for us if we believe the Word and put it to work. 

The enemy may try to cause sudden surprises to catch us unaware and knock us down, but God is faithful. His Word is true no matter what the circumstances look like. 

Pray Out Loud.

Lord, thank You that I do not have to be afraid of disease and sickness. I have received your inheritance as my own. I choose to put my trust in Your Word as I dwell in the secret place. In the name of Jesus. Amen

Pray Psalm 91. 

Scriptures: Psalms 91:6, Mark 4:39

I Will Not Fear The Destruction

You will not be afraid of the destruction that lays waste at noon. –Psalm 91:6b

This fourth category of evil is destruction. Destruction takes in the evils over which mankind has no control—those things that the world ignorantly calls acts of God: tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, fire… God very plainly tells us that we are not to fear destruction. These natural disasters are not coming from God. 

In Mark 4:39, Jesus rebuked the storm, and it became perfectly calm, demonstrating that God is not the author of such things. Otherwise, Jesus would never have contradicted His Father by rebuking something sent by Him. 

There is no place in the physical world where you can go and be safe from every destruction—every natural disaster. We can never anticipate what might come when we least expect it. But no matter where you are in the world, God says to run to His shelter where you will not be afraid of the destruction…it will not approach you! 

God lets us know in Psalm 91, “You will not be afraid of terror, arrows, pestilence or destruction because I have said in My Word that it will not approach you—if you are obedient to verses one and two to dwell in My shelter and abide in My shadow.” And, of course, we cannot dwell and abide in Him apart from Jesus. But, praise God—because of the shed Blood of the Cross, it has now been made possible. 

We can receive anything that God has already provided. The secret is knowing that everything for which God has made provision is clearly spelled out and defined in the Word of God. If you can find where God has offered it—you can have it! It is never God holding it back. His provision is already there—waiting to be received. 

Faith is the means by which we accept what God has already made available. Our goal needs to be the renewal of our minds, so we have more faith in God’s Word than in what we see. 

Pray Out Loud.

Lord, I am renewing my mind to the promises of protection You’ve provided. My trust is in You, and I have more faith in Your Word than what I may see with my natural eyes. In the name of Jesus. Amen 

Pray Psalm 91.

Scripture: Psalms 91:7

Though A Thousand Fall

A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not approach you. –Psalm 91:7

Do we have the courage to trust God’s Word enough to believe that He means this literally? And, is it possible for it to be true and yet still miss out on these promises? Jesus answers the last question in Luke 4:27, “There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, but none of them was cleansed.” Only Naaman, the Syrian, was healed when he obeyed in faith. Not everyone will receive the benefits of this promise in Psalm 91. Only those who believe God and hold fast to His promises will profit; nevertheless, it is available. And to the measure we trust Him, we will, in the same measure reap the benefits of that trust.

God knew there would be times when we would hear so many negative reports, see so many needs, and encounter so much danger around us that we would feel overwhelmed. That is why He warned us ahead of time. We have a choice to make. We can either choose to run to His shelter in faith, and it will not approach us, or we can passively live our lives the way the world does, not realizing there is something we can do about it. 

Psalm 91 is the preventive measure that God has given to His children against every evil known to mankind. No place else in the Word are all the protection promises (including help from angels, as well as promises ensuring our authority) accumulated in one covenant to offer such a total package for living in this world. 

Many see Psalm 91 as a beautiful promise that they file with all their other good reading material, and it makes them feel comforted when they read it. I do not want anyone to read this and fail to see the significance of these promises. These are not written for our inspiration but for our protection. These are words of deliverance from affliction.

Pray Out Loud.

Lord, thank You for the promises available to me in Psalm 91. I desire for my mind to be renewed so that I consistently appropriate these promises for living victoriously and have freedom from fear in this world. In the name of Jesus. Amen

Pray Psalm 91.

Scriptures: Psalms 91:10, Psalms 112:7

No Plague Comes Near My Family

No evil will befall you, nor will any plague or calamity come near your dwelling. —Psalm 91:10 

Are you worried about your family? This part of Psalm 91 addresses that very concern. After God repeats our part of the condition in verse nine, He then re-emphasizes the promise in verse ten: “…nor will it come near your dwelling place (your household).” It is at this point in the psalm that the Bible makes this covenant more comprehensive than just being about ourselves!

God has just added a new dimension to the promise: the opportunity to exercise faith, not only for ourselves but also for the protection of our entire household. If these promises were only available to us as individuals, it would not be very comforting. Because God has created within us both an instinct to be protected and a need to protect those who belong to us, He has assured us here that these promises are for you and your household. 

It appears that the Old Testament leaders had a better understanding of this concept than we who are under the New Covenant. That is why Joshua chose for himself and for his household. 

If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, then choose for yourselves today whom you will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. –Joshua 24:15

As Joshua made the decision that his household would serve God with him, he was influencing their destiny and declaring their protection at the same time. 

When our hearts are steadfast, and we are trusting in His faithfulness to fulfill His promises. We’ll not be constantly afraid that something bad is going to happen to one of our family members. 

Negative expectations will begin to pass away, and we will start expecting good reports. 

Pray Out Loud.

Lord, Thank You for making Your covenant of protection available to me and my entire household. As for me and my house, we will gladly serve the Lord. My heart is steadfast, trusting in You. I will not fear evil reports. In the name of Jesus. Amen

Pray Psalm 91. 

Scripture: Psalms 91:11-12

Angels Watching Over Me

For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone. –Psalm 91:11-12

Most Christians read past this promise with very little thought about the magnitude of what is being said. Only after we get to Heaven will we realize all the things from which we were spared because of the intervention of God’s angels on our behalf. 

I am sure you have read stories about missionaries whose lives were spared because would-be murderers saw large bodyguards protecting them—when, in fact, there was no one there in the natural. And we can all recall close calls where we escaped a tragedy, and there was no explanation in the natural. It is possible “to entertain angels without knowing it” as it says in Hebrews 13:2, but sadly, I believe most Christians tend to disregard the ministry of angels altogether. 

Verse 11 says, “For He will give His angels charge concerning you!” What does that mean? When you take charge of something, you put yourself in a place of leadership. You begin telling everyone what to do and how to do it. If angels are taking charge of the things that concern us, God has given the angels, not the circumstances, the authority to act on our behalf. That same truth is repeated in Hebrews.

Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation? –Hebrews 1:14

When we look to God as the source of our protection and provision, the angels are constantly rendering us aid and taking charge of our affairs. Psalm 103:20 says, “His angels mighty in strength…obey the voice of His Word.” As we proclaim God’s Word, the angels hasten to carry it out. Faith is what releases this promise to work on our behalf. 

Angelic protection is just another one of the unique ways in which God has provided protection. He charged angels to guard us in all our ways.

Pray Out Loud.

Lord, as I proclaim Your Word in faith, these heavenly guards —your angels— have been given charge over me. Thank You for this added protection! In the name of Jesus. Amen 

Pray Psalm 91.

Scriptures: Psalms 91:13, Luke 10:19

The Enemy Under My Feet

You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent (dragon in the KJV) you will trample down. –Psalm 91:13

God takes us from the subject of our being protected by Him and puts emphasis on the authority in His Name that has been given to us as believers. 

Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you. –Luke 10:19

Christians have been given authority over the enemy. He does not have authority over us! However, our authority over the enemy is not automatic. 

What does the Word mean when it says, “We will tread on the lion, the young lion, the cobra, and the dragon?” This is an illustration of things that are harmful in our lives. These terms describe the types of satanic oppression. So, what do these terms mean to us today? 

“Lion problems”—are bold and loud—that come out in the open and hit us face-on, like a car accident or an unexpected bill at the end of the month. God says that we will tread on them—they will not tread on us. 

“Young lion problems”—come against us to harass and destroy gradually. Subtle negative thoughts that tell us we will not survive or that our spouse no longer loves us are examples. 

“Cobra problems”—seem to sneak up on us like a snake in the grass throughout our day while minding our own business. They are what we might call an undercover attack—a deceptive scheme that keeps us blinded until it devours us. 

“Dragon problems”—that Hebrew word in the Strong’s Concordance is “sea monster.” Fictitious or extinct—like a dragon—have you ever had a fear that was totally ungrounded? A figment of your imagination? Sure, we all have. 

No longer are we to put up with the fears that once gripped our hearts and left us powerless at the sight of the evil. God has given us His Power of Attorney, and these problems now have to submit to the authority of His Name. 

Pray Out Loud.

Help me learn to use the authority in Your name that has been given to me as a believer. I declare I have victory in my life. In the name of Jesus. Amen 

Pray Psalm 91.

Scriptures: Psalms 91:14, John 21:15, John 14:15

Because I Love Him

Because he has loved Me, therefore I will… –Psalm 91:14a

The author of the Psalm changes from talking in third person about God’s promises to God speaking to us personally from His secret place and announcing promises in the first person. It is a dramatic shift in tone as it moves to God speaking prophetically to each one of us directly, denoting significantly more depth in the relationship. This passage challenges the reader to set his love upon God. When he does, the promises come into effect, and God is indulgent with His promises to the one who loves Him. 

Love is the cohesiveness that binds man to God, and God will be faithful to His beloved. Love always requires presence and nearness. Some people acknowledge that there is a God; others know Him. Neither maturity, nor education, nor family heritage, nor even a lifetime as a nominal Christian can make a person “know” Him. Only an encounter with the Lord and time spent with Him will cause one to lay hold of the promises in these verses of Psalm 91. 

We need to ask ourselves, “Do I really love Him?” Jesus asked this of Peter, a disciple, “Peter, do you love Me (John 21:15)?” Can you imagine how Peter must have felt when Jesus questioned him three times? Even so, we need to question ourselves because these promises are made only to those who have genuinely set their love on Him. These seven promises are reserved for those who return His Love. 

The Lord said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, you will obey Me!” Our obedience is a reliable sign that shows us that we really love Him. Do you love Him? If you do, these promises are for you! 

Pray Out Loud.

Today and from this day forth, I purpose to be faithful in my walk with You and to set my love upon You. Lord, I choose to obey Your commands. Thank You for Your faithfulness to me. In the name of Jesus. Amen 

Pray Psalm 91. 

Scriptures: Psalms 91:14, Joel 2:32, Psalms 32:7, Luke 1:37

God Is My Deliverer

Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him…—Psalm 91:14a

A promise of deliverance is the first of the seven promises made to the one who loves God. Make it personal! For instance, I quote it like this: “Because I love You, Lord, I thank You that You have promised to deliver me.” 

When I was young, I personally needed deliverance. I almost destroyed my marriage, my family, and my reputation because I was tormented with fear. One incident opened the door. I can remember the very instant my happy life changed into a nightmare that lasted eight years. And one verse walked me out of this living mental hell: “All who call on the Name of the Lord shall be delivered (Joel 2:32).” Many of you desperately need God’s promise of deliverance. The Word worked for me, and it will work for you. 

There are also other types of deliverances. There is the internal and the external. Ask yourself, “From what is He going to deliver me?” 

God will deliver us from all of the following: 

· Lion problems (life-threatening attacks) 

· Young lion problems (constant harassment) 

· Cobra problems (sneaky attacks which seem to come out of nowhere) 

· Dragon problems (imaginary fears, past fears, vain imaginations) 

· Terror by night (evils that come through man—war, terror, violence) 

· Arrows that fly by day (enemy assignments sent to wound) 

· Pestilence (plagues, deadly diseases, fatal epidemics) 

· Destruction (evils over which man has no control) 

In other words, God wants to deliver us from every evil known to mankind. What a promise! I thank God that He is the God of deliverance. 

Pray Out Loud.

Lord, thank You for being my Deliverer and for providing a means of escape from all the threats of violence and harassment, the sneaky problems and evil schemes of the enemy. I am so grateful for Your Word and the authority You have given to me as a believer. In the name of Jesus. Amen 

Pray Psalm 91.

Scripture: Psalms 91:14

I Am Seated With Him On High

Because he has loved Me… I will set him securely on high because he has known My Name. –Psalm 91:14b

To be set securely on high is the second promise to those who love the Lord and know Him by Name. What all is there to know about a name? When God wanted to show the people something important about Himself or about His promises in the Old Testament, He would make it known by revealing another one of His covenant Names. His Name revealed Himself: Jehovah Jireh is above lack, Jehovah Rapha is higher than sickness, and Jehovah Shalom is above a restless mind. We see this theme of His Name above all other names also in Ephesians 1:20-21; 2:6 …which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come… and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus. 

God pulls us up to where He is! Our vantage point is greatly improved when we are seated with Him on high. 

Notice that this verse Psalm 91:14, uses the word “known.” Do you know Him by Name? These promises come out of a “knowing” relationship. This is not an “impersonal” God with whom you don’t interact. This promise is connected to knowing His Name. 

In the first two sentences of Psalm 91, the psalmist refers to God by four different names. God is The Most High, revealing that He is the highest that exists. God is called The Almighty, denoting that He is the most powerful. He is referred to as The Lord, revealing ownership. Then the writer calls Him My God, making it personal. This promise of being seated securely on high is reserved for the one who experiences God intimately, then God says that the promises are ours. 

Pray Out Loud.

Lord, I’m so thankful I know You, and I’m learning more and more about You. You have given me Your authority and seated me on high with You. Help me to see myself there. In the Name of Jesus. Amen 

Pray Psalm 91. 

Scripture: Psalms 91:15

God Answers My Call

He will call on Me, and I will answer him… –Psalm 91:15a

God makes a third promise here in verse fifteen that He will answer those who truly love Him and call on His Name. Are we aware of what a wonderful promise God is making to us here? 

This is the confidence we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. –I John 5:14-15

Nothing gives me more comfort than to realize that every time I pray in line with God’s Word, He hears me. And, if He hears me, I know I have the request for which I asked. This one promise keeps me continually searching His Word in order to understand His will and His promises so that I can know how to pray more effectively. 

Sometimes we have no power to rescue ourselves, and we have to rely solely on His faithfulness. 

There is no end to God’s ways and means of providing protection for those who trust His Word. 

You can be delivered from destruction. God is always there. 

Pray Out Loud.

Lord, I have confidence You hear me. Thank You for being there for me and for providing protection when I have no power to rescue myself. When I need help and get alone to call out to You, I know You will answer me! The more I learn about You, the more I am in awe of Your goodness. In the name of Jesus. Amen 

Pray Psalm 91. (Remember to speak it aloud when you make it your personal prayer.)

Scriptures: Psalms 91:15, Isaiah 43:2

God Rescues Me From Trouble

…I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him… –Psalm 91:15

The fourth promise—to rescue from trouble those who love the Lord—is found in the middle of verse 15. It is a well-known fact that human nature cries out to God when faced with trouble. We’ve all known men in prison, soldiers in war, and people in accidents… who call out to God when their lives get into a crisis. Even atheists are known to call on the God they don’t acknowledge when they are extremely afraid. A lot of criticism has been given to those kinds of court of-the-last-resort prayers. However, in defense of this kind of praying, we must remember that when one is in pain, he usually runs to the one he loves the most and the one he trusts. The alternative is not calling out at all, so this verse acknowledges that calling out to God when we are in trouble is a good place to start. 

If a person has never felt danger, he never thinks about needing protection. It is the one that knows he is in imminent danger who will appreciate and take the words of this psalm to heart. God has a great deal of variety in His plentiful means of protection and modes of rescue from trouble. 

God answers our prayers and rescues us in so many ways. I am so thankful that He is creative and not limited by our seemingly impossible situations. But we have to ask in faith and not confine Him to our limited resources. God says, “If you love Me, I will be with you when you find yourself in trouble, and I will rescue you.” But we have to trust Him to do it His way. 

Pray Out Loud

Lord, I am so grateful that You will be with me in trouble and rescue me when I call to You. I ask that You help me remember to run to You first and call upon You in my day of trouble. I want to continually put my trust in You and in Your Word until I see difficult situations turn around. In the name of Jesus. Amen 

Pray Psalm 91.

Scripture: Psalms 91:15

God Honors Me

…I will honor him… –Psalm 91:15

The fifth promise—to honor those who love God—is in the last part of verse fifteen. All of us like to be honored. In school, at work, in the military…we can all think of examples of seeing someone honored or times when we received an honor. But being honored by men is nothing compared to being honored by God. 

It is truly a mind-boggling concept to think that God would tell us that He would honor us. Let’s think about what it looks like when God places His honor on someone’s life. Have you had a time when you have been favored by God? Interestingly, it can be challenging for a period of time. Why would God tell Joseph in a dream about the coming honor He would give him? 

He [Joseph] said to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have had; for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf… Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” Genesis 36:6-7, 9

When Joseph told the dream, it looked as though the opposite effect had taken place. The honor on our lives can be challenged to such an extent that it creates new problems for us. 

Joseph also experienced honor by man when, out of all his brothers, he was given a coat of distinction. Yet the favor of his father created a spiraling downhill chain of events for him. Joseph matured and passed through some very difficult times but found that favor wasn’t just for a fleeting moment but it lasted for a lifetime. 

Honor is a unique gift God gives us—simply because we love Him! 

Pray Out Loud.

Lord, I pray that my life will honor You! To think that You would honor me because I love You is amazing. I am so grateful for the times I have been honored by You. What a great above-and-beyond promise it is! Thank You! In the name of Jesus. Amen 

Pray Psalm 91.

Scripture: Psalms 91:16

God Satisfies Me With Long Life

With a long life I will satisfy him. –Psalm 91:16a

The sixth promise—to satisfy those who love Him with a long life—is found in verse 16. God does not just say that He will prolong our lives and give us a lot of birthdays. No! He says that He will satisfy us with a long life. 

It has been said that there is a God-shaped vacuum on the inside of each one of us. If we will come to Him, let Him fill that empty place on the inside, and allow Him to fulfill the call on our lives—then He will give us a long life and satisfy us as we live it out. 

God wants us to live a satisfied life, but let’s also not neglect the promise of a long life. King David was Israel’s most valiant, daring warrior, yet he lived to be a ripe old age, “full of days,” as the Old Testament authors liked to say. His life was filled with combat, high-risk situations, and impossible odds. Yet, he did not die in battle; his head went down in peace in his old age. Long life is a great concluding promise of protection. 

God wants us to claim the promise of long life, but He also wants us to use that long life for Him. Ask yourself, “What am I going to do with my long life?” 

Pray Out Loud.

Lord, I come to You and ask You to fill the empty places inside me with more of You. I ask for all that You have for me. Help me fulfill the unique calling You have for my life. Let my life count for You and Your kingdom work. Thank You for the promise of a long and satisfied life. In the name of Jesus. Amen 

Pray Psalm 91.

Scriptures: Psalms 91:16

I Behold His Salvation

…and let him behold My Salvation. –Psalm 91:16b

His salvation is the seventh promise found in the last part of verse 16. Behold simply means to see something and take hold of it and make it our own. God wants us to take hold of His salvation. 

The movement of this last line in Psalm 91 describes our ultimate, final victory. The order of this sentence gives us the promise that we will see salvation face to face DURING AND AFTER our long, satisfied life. This moves us beyond an intellectual knowledge of salvation to a relationship. It secures our future, but it starts now. Jesus constantly reminded us, “Salvation is Now! Today it has come!” Many people are surprised when they look up the word “salvation” in a Bible concordance and find that it has a much deeper meaning than just a ticket to heaven. We often miss the richness of this promise. 

According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, the Word translated “salvation” includes health, healing, deliverance, rescue, safety, protection, and provision. 

Many people read Psalm 91 and simply see it with their eyes, but very few behold it in their lives. My prayer is for that to change. 

Pray Out Loud.

I pray that my understanding will be enlarged to realize all that salvation makes available to me. I choose to walk in faith and not in fear. I am making a choice to spend time daily with You in the secret place. In the name of Jesus. Amen 

Pray Psalm 91. The Lord instructed Peggy Joyce to take a walk daily and pray Psalm 91 back to God in a prayer of thanksgiving. She has missed very few days in the past 50 years. Let this also become your daily prayer.

Thank you for joining us on the 21-day devotional journey.