We Shall Not Be Afraid

Mother bird protecting the little ones under her wings.

For sure, times are tough. There is much uncertainty in the world. Granted, everyone is feeling a little beside themselves over the outbreak of the Coronavirus; add to that the general stresses of day-to-day living, financial matters, and relationships with family and friends.

It is easy to let things bring us down with worry, especially when we don’t know where to turn for answers that help us through the things we are dealing with.
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On Sunday, a friend of mine delivered a sermon that delivered the words of Psalm 91. Coincidentally, on the same Sunday, the pastor of my church delivered a sermon on the same passage – Psalm 91. Although I enjoy all of the Psalms, there are several that I rely on for uplifting and extra strength. This Psalm is one of those Psalms that helps me see the promises of God very clearly. God promises not to forsake us. He promises to be with us forever and ever.​

Psalm 91

​Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

God is Our Protector

The thing to realize about the Almighty God is that He is not a man who might be prone to fall away from his promises for whatever good (or bad) reason he has. Our God is perfect and He does not lie. His Word is Truth. So when He makes a promise, we can trust He will deliver on His promise. And, because we trust in His Word and His promises, we can live a life unafraid of anything that is happening in our lives and around the world right now.
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Verse 1 refers to the Shadow of the Almighty. I quote a portion of my friend’s sermon to share how when we rely on the Lord for protection we are under the shadow of the Almighty.

When I see the word “shadow” I think of a “shade tree” where one can be protected from the burning rays of the sun - a metaphor for care and protection. It also reminds us of a mother bird hovering over her young as they reside in her shadow. 
​--KDP

My friend’s interpretation provides a clear picture of how God watches over us and provides a shield of protection over, around, and under us to keep us from harm and danger.

Verses 9 and 10 clearly state that if we claim the Lord as our refuge (Savior) and make Him our dwelling (reside in the Lord) He will protect us from harm.
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Psalm 91 is filled with many promises, naming all kinds of danger and harm that could possibly come to us, but no matter what it is and no matter where we are, our God who is omnipresent (everywhere at all times) will be where we need Him to be and when we need Him to be there, and He will protect us.

Have No Fear

Have no fear. Have no doubt. God is your protector, your defender. In whatever you do for Him, He sends angels before you to make a safe path for you.

When you have God as your guide, you have God as your guarantee that no pestilence, no sickness, no weakness, no demon… nothing can harm you.
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All you need to do is call upon the Lord. He will hear you and when you make Him your Lord and Savior, He will save you.

Isaiah 59:1

​Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.

Today's Song

Title: He is With You
Performance: Mandisa
Copyright: UMG (on behalf of Sparrow (SPR)); Capitol CMG Publishing, ASCAP, LatinAutor - UMPG, LatinAutor, UMPI, Warner Chappell, UNIAO BRASILEIRA DE EDITORAS DE MUSICA - UBEM, Adorando Brazil, and 6 Music Rights Societies