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. – Psalm 91:1-2 NLT
Psalm 91, written by Moses during Israel’s 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, has been used as a foundation for prayers for protection for centuries––for good reason. The entire psalm talks about God’s protection in times of trouble, promising us safety in God’s presence when we trust in Him through our trials.
The Eternal Truth About God’s Presence
If you want to learn how to pray Psalm 91 over your life, it starts with understanding how the psalm was crafted. First, Moses declares a truth: “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (verse 1). Notice that this isn’t a promise as much as it is a reality. God’s presence is the safest place to be.
Regardless of who you are or where you’ve come from, you will find rest for your weary soul when you draw near to God. Do you believe this? If you want to pray for the protection that Psalm 91 speaks about, you have to truly believe that coming into God’s presence is actually going to bring you peace.
Making a Choice to Trust in God
Then, Moses makes a personal declaration: “This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him” (verse 2). We can only experience the truth of verse 1 if we make the decision that Moses does: to determine to make the Lord your only place of refuge. Too often do we use God as a place of safety only on occasion, running back to our hold habits and comforts instead. But when we do this, we remove ourselves from God’s presence, and with it the protection it provides. We can’t pray for God’s whole promise of protection if we’re unwilling to embrace the call to trust God is the only source of security.
Growing in Wisdom and Discernment
Next we read a list of ways that God protects those who seek Him for refuge. While life may be confusing and moments of danger may catch us by surprise at times, it’s wise to consider the ways we might stumble or be attacked by the enemy. The Bible tells us that we’re not unaware of the schemes of the enemy (2 Corinthians 2:11). If that’s really the case, then we’ll be able to identify the signs that we’re being attacked and respond by running into the presence of God. Receiving the promises of Psalm 91 means learning and growing to be wise––following God on the path of righteousness.
The Dependencies of God’s Promise
It’s important to note that while we don’t earn God’s promise for protection, He does require us to obey Him in order to receive it. God doesn’t simply grant us our wishes of protection so we can go out brazenly into the face of danger. He requires us to take shelter in Him (“If you make the LORD your refuge”) in order to receive His protection. Not because He’s petty, but because there is no protection outside of His presence.
Hearing God’s Voice
The psalm ends with a quote from the LORD: “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.”
As we pray our prayers of protection from Psalm 91, we also need to make margin to sit and listen for God’s voice. There will be nothing as comforting and soothing to our souls than hearing from the Almighty God who holds us in His loving arms.
Related Resource: 10 Prayers from Psalm 91
