This week’s blog by Hannah Nelson – Associate Pastor – Kids and Families
Psalm 91
“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in the darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The LORD says, ‘I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.’ “
I remember several years ago joining a women’s Bible study at my church. I will admit that the reason I joined was to have some adult interaction (I had four children under age seven at the time), and to give my extroverted self a social outlet. It’s funny how God can use our selfish motives to bring us closer to Him! Little did I know that this would be a powerful season in my life for experiencing the presence and power of God. Our group dove deep into a Bible study about believing in God and His promises, and experiencing Him as an active part of our lives. During this season I was fighting through some severe depression (which I was hiding from everyone around me) and I was struggling to feel God in my life. One of the exercises we were encouraged to practice at home was reading and praying Scripture out loud. This, at first, felt weird. I usually would just pray silently in my head, so using my “outside voice” seemed silly. After some time, though, it became not only natural, but I began to look forward to my out loud Scripture prayer time. Jesus, Himself, tells us there is power in His name, and we know that there is power in the Word of God. Speaking and hearing the words of the Bible in full volume was life-changing for me! I began to have hope again (which had been lacking during my depression) and the negative pull on my heart and soul began to slack. Try this today, this week, maybe even for a whole month; read and pray Psalm 91 out loud each day. Don’t rush through it. Pause on the words or phrases that stand out to you and let God speak to you in a new way. God’s Word is alive and active, it is powerful, and it will change your life!
