As you read through Scripture, you’ll see that God has provided many blessings for His children through the Cross. You’ll also find that God’s blessings are dependent on your action. They don’t come automatically. Even salvation requires action—faith, confession, and repentance (Romans 10:9, 10). While God has done His part through the Cross to make the blessings available, He is waiting on you to do your part.
The same is true of the blessing of protection. To receive this blessing, God expects you to keep your part of your covenant—that binding agreement you made when you received Jesus as the Lord of your life. Psalm 91 is one of the greatest protection passages in the Bible. It’s clear concerning your responsibility to God and God’s responsibility to you. As God always operates, it’s not difficult to keep your side of the contract. It’s just a matter of lifestyle choice.
Your Part
Dwell in the Secret Place
To experience God’s protection, He requires that you dwell, or make your home, with Him. If you’re not on His property, how will He be able to protect you? You must be present.
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High abide under the shadow of the Almighty (v. 1).
Make Him Your Protection
God expects you to make Him your Protector. Rather than relying on the strength of man, He wants you to choose Him. It’s one thing to say that He is a protector, but quite another to make Him your own.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust” (v. 2).
Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place… (v. 9).
Refuse to Fear
If you trust God as your Protector, you will choose to reject fear and embrace God’s promises. Fear is faith in the problem rather than faith in God. God will only respond to your faith in Him.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday (v. 5-6).
Use Your Authority
God expects you to exercise the authority He has given you by fearlessly standing up to your enemies. It’s not a physical fight. It’s a faith fight involving speaking God’s Word as your weapon.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot (v. 13).
Love Him
God will always love you—no matter what. But just like abiding with Him is required, God expects you to love Him above anything or anyone else. It’s proof of your allegiance.
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him…” (v. 14).
Make His Word Your Armor
Like the full Armor of God, you must choose to put it on for it to be effective (Ephesians 6:10-14). God’s truth is His Word. If you put it on and use it, it will provide the protection you need.
His truth shall be your shield and buckler… (v. 4).
Call Upon Him
When trouble comes, God requires you to make Him your number one Source, calling Him before you call on anyone else.
“He shall call upon Me…” (v. 15).
His Part
He Will Deliver You and Set You on High
God will keep His side of the deal by delivering you from evil. It may look bleak, but He is strong enough to remove you from harm’s way.
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence (v. 3).
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name” (v. 14).
“I will deliver him and honor him…” (v. 15).
He Will Cover You
Like an eagle or mother hen, God will surround you with His protective wings, keeping you safe from the outside elements.
He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge… (v. 4).
He Will Commission His Angels
Angels were created to provide protection and deliver important messages from God. Angels have been placed in charge of your life—in the good times and the bad. You can trust their ever-present strength.
For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone (v. 11, 12).
He Will Answer You
God’s ears are always open to hear your cry for help…or any other form of communication (Psalm 34:15). You are His child, after all. When you call, He will answer.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him… (v. 15).
He Will Be with You
God, through the Holy Spirit, is always with you, and He will never leave you (Psalm 45:1, Hebrews 13:5). You can trust His consistent presence. I will be with him in trouble… (v. 15).
He Will Honor You
To honor means to lift and promote. God will bring you out of trouble looking better than when you did when you went into the situation!
“I will deliver him and honor him…” ( v. 15).
He Will Give You Long Life
God desires that you enjoy a long life. You have an assignment to complete, and He would never want that assignment to be cut short.
“With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation” (v. 16).
The End Result
God is a God of victory. There is always a positive outcome when you trust Him for protection . . . or anything else you may face! You can expect it as you do your part.
A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked (v. 7, 8).
No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling … (v. 10).
Christa Madrid 