Shelter

Psalm 91 has become one of my favorite passages over the years. It paints such an enduring and beautiful picture of God as a mighty fortress overshadowing all He loves. To stand in His shadow is peace like no other.

Over the years, Jesus has been my shelter in many ways, more than I can count, really. But a few stick in my mind. I remember being on my way to work, running right on time for once, when my mom called to ask me to come by and sign some paper work. I was aggravated because I knew it would make me late. It ended up saving my life, because had I not stopped by my mom's work, I would've been right in front of the Murrah building when it blew up in Oklahoma City.

More recently, I ended up in a very strenuous ordeal that seemed to be heading into a lawsuit, much to my dismay. Even though I knew I had not done anything wrong, it looked like disaster ahead. I sat on my back porch and prayed the Psalms over my situation, calling down Jesus' help. I was delivered.

More often than bombings and lawsuits, Jesus shelters me from a cruel world, a world that does not accept Him or me. He protects me from my own thoughts, even, reasoning with me when I'm being unreasonable, or paranoid or anxious over the smallest of concerns. He reminds me of how valuable I am to Him even when others don't see me as anything near value. I haven't been on a small sailing vessel lately, but that doesn't mean I haven't been hit by some mighty big waves. Yet...I am sheltered.

Does that mean bad things don't come my way? Not at all. We all know Jesus made it clear that in this world, we would have trouble. But He has overcome this world, and if we let Him, He will provide shelter from both the hot and the cold, the dark, the loneliness, the anger and bitterness and more. And that's just naming what we know about. Imagine all the things He's sheltered us from that we don't even know about.

Needing some shelter from the harsh winds of life? Or more specifically, this particular time of year? See below...


Psalm 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
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[b] 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.”