The Emergency Psalm
Lately I’ve been thinking of it as Psalm 911. It’s my go-to when I need to pray for protection.
The Deployment Psalm
My two-year old memorized Psalm 91 when daddy deployed to the middle east. We prayed it’s entirety over him every night in our little rocker after reading our bedtime story.
Before Dan deployed, we read a testimony together about a soldier who had his little Bible in his uniform’s front left pocket over his heart. A bullet had fired right at his chest, piercing through every page of the Bible until the point stopped dead in its tracks about halfway through the Good Book. When he examined what happened further, I’m sure with both shock and wonder, he found that the bullet pointed and supernaturally stopped right at the page for Psalm 91.
My mother-in-love sent my husband a handkerchief with Psalm 91 written on it to take with him on deployments. We knew God’s Word truly is living and active, sharper than a double edged sword, and stronger than the most fortified shield.
Reading Afresh
The American Bible Society has an amazing ministry to get Bibles into the hands of our soldiers. They also support the kids of heroes and sent my kids and I new Bibles. I didn’t know I needed one until they mailed it to me!
I loved my worn thin leather Bible my husband gave me on our wedding day, but after he died, somehow I couldn’t understand the Bible’s ESV words anymore. I still read it, but it felt more like looking at blurry letters on a page.
The American Bible Society sent me a Contemporary English Version (CEV) that somehow I could actually read in that season! And it felt like (finally!) a gasp of air after feeling suffocated in that season, drowning in sorrow.
You too may have memorized Psalm 91 for your own prayer life. It’s like a comfort blanket for the anxious. It’s like a shield for the warrior. But if you’ve never read it in the CEV, I want to share it here today.
Please read it today like it’s your first time to hear these promises and truths. Back to childlike faith and wonder in the power of God’s Holy Word.
Psalm 91
The Lord Is My Fortress
1 Live under the protection
of God Most High
and stay in the shadow
of God All-Powerful.
2 Then you will say to the Lord,
“You are my fortress,
my place of safety;
you are my God,
and I trust you.”
3 The Lord will keep you safe
from secret traps
and deadly diseases.
4 He will spread his wings
over you
and keep you secure.
His faithfulness is like
a shield or a city wall.[a]
5 You won’t need to worry
about dangers at night
or arrows during the day.
6 And you won’t fear diseases
that strike in the dark
or sudden disaster at noon.
7 You will not be harmed,
though thousands fall
all around you.
8 And with your own eyes
you will see the punishment
of the wicked.
9 The Lord Most High
is your fortress.
Run to him for safety,
10 and no terrible disasters
will strike you
or your home.
11 God will command his angels
to protect you
wherever you go.
12 They will carry you
in their arms,
and you won’t hurt your feet
on the stones.
13 You will overpower
the strongest lions
and the most deadly snakes.
14 The Lord says, “If you love me
and truly know who I am,
I will rescue you
and keep you safe.
15 When you are in trouble,
call out to me.
I will answer and be there
to protect and honor you.
16 You will live a long life
and see my saving power.”Psalm 91, CEV
When we read it afresh recently, my daughter remarked, very insightfully, that the first line, Psalm 91:1, is a command here: “Live!” Do it. Live under God’s protection.
Til next time! Toodle-loo, and Peace be with you.
