Abiding in the shadow
I think one of the greatest advantages of being saved is being able to surrender our troubles to Jesus and rest in his peace. How awesome to have this secret hiding place.
The truth of the matter is that the saints will face difficult times even after they have become saved. God’s plan was never to free us from all painful situations because he gets too much use out of them, which is a good topic for another study. Let us say that once we are saved and walking by faith, we have a more significant advantage of success in more challenging times than before Jesus found us.
There was a story some time ago (it doesn’t seem to have happened but illustrates a point) about a forest fire that had largely gone out of hand for some time. As firefighters began to get it under control, they walked through the burnt areas poking logs and such with their pokers, looking for hot embers that might start the fire again. One of them came across a bird with ashes and soot all over the outside of its body, and it appeared to have died in the fire from smoke inhalation, perhaps. He was a little sickened by this sight and poked the bird to knock it over, and to his surprise, several baby birds came out chirping from under the bird’s wings. You see, amid the fire, the mother bird huddled her babies under her wings to protect them from danger. I hope you see this spiritually, so let us now look into abiding in the shadow of God in the time of our greatest need.
Secret Dwelling
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalms 91:1). Perhaps the first thing to notice here is the word dwelleth. The “eth” at the end implies continuing the preceding word, which is to dwell. I think it is essential for us to dwell in God long before our troubled times happen. You don’t wait for the war to break out to prepare for war. It also shows God that we enjoy spending time with him even if our lives are not in turmoil.
I also like the “secret place” concept. Take a moment and truly reflect upon what this secret place can offer. First and foremost, it is a secret, meaning that Satan and all his devices cannot find you. God has you hidden so well that even your troubles and concerns cannot find you. This place of true rest allows your mind to stop fighting those mind-binding spirits long enough to take a spiritual breath. How wonderful this place is when you find yourself amid the fire.
“Shall abide under the shadow” is very revealing in these passages. Let us understand what must exist for a shadow to be formed. First, you must have a source of light. Next, you must have a surface for that light source to land upon. Lastly, you need something to get between that surface and the light source, interrupting the light source so it cannot fully land on the surface.
Look at this spiritually, thinking of the light source as your pain and you as the surface. God will get between you and the source of your hurt, taking some of the damage intended for you. He will shield you from the full impact of your situation! This secret place is truly a blessed part of our salvation.
Claim Your Secret Place
“I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust” (Psalms 91:2). I have long believed that it is not enough to meditate upon God’s Word merely, but you must also speak it, which takes faith. You must speak and release it if you believe he is your refuge. You must speak and release it if you believe he is your fortress. In speaking these things, you declare that he is your God and that you are convinced he will provide a secret place for you.
Speaking Deliverance
“Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence” (Psalms 91:3). Surely he will deliver me, and I stand on his Word. I speak it now that all against me shall not prosper. All that attempts to hold me back or change my course (snare) will not be effective against the might of the living God. All those mind attacks will fail because I believe God can, and I choose to abide in the secret place he has provided for me.
Under His Wings
“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler” (Psalms 91:4). Now for the crux of the matter. Remember our story of the mother bird and her babies? Remember the fire that she hid them from, thus shielding them? Now, look at our great and mighty God. The great deliverer of a man who is more than able. In the hour of your greatest need, when your back is pressed against the wall, tears stream down your face as the pain is tearing you apart from the inside out; Jesus is there! Never give up on Jesus, and wait for him in his time to cover you with his wings of protection. He will show up, and you will get your victory. Keep speaking your secret place; continue abiding in him and his Word. He will come to your aid, and he will shield you from the hurt and the pain. His truth (Word) will be your defense. Never underestimate the power of his blood-washed Word to deliver you. The blood still has power, and it is still able to restore your mind. Read his Word even if you don’t fully understand what you are reading. Pray to the Father for revelation and to lead you to the scriptures that will administer healing. I promise that if you read his Word and ask him to use it in your life, you will see the results, sometimes even overnight.
Resist Fear
“Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;” (Psalms 91:5) Let me tell you right now with authority, fear is of the devil. Do not allow fear to control your life; understand that you are under Satan’s control if you live in fear. Trust in the Lord and know that the plan for your life is not always to be fearful. Feeling fear for a moment is different because you recognize danger instead of living in continual fear. If you are experiencing that warning fear, then pray immediately. If you are living under continual fear, then ask God to minister to you in that area and deliver you from the hands of bondage. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
Hear the Lord
“Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;” (Psalms 91:9). Now that we have spoken deliverance and resisted fear using God’s Word, we find that he is moving in his habitation. He hears the cries of one of his children in distress. I believe he is kindled with a passion for coming to our aid. From within the bowels of our souls, we open up and cry unto the Lord, and I know that is a sweet smell in his nostrils. Pleas for help mixed with praise and worship are a volatile mixture that rouses the all-mighty God into a frenzy of deliverance that encompasses us within his glory.
Total Victory
“There shall no evil befall thee …” (Psalms 91:10). When God says no, all creation must bow to his will. The devil’s no cannot compete with God’s yes. The devil’s sickness cannot compete with God’s healing. The devil’s oppression cannot compete with God’s joy. If God said it, I believe it; that settles it!
Love and Deliverance
“Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him:” (Psalms 91:14). See now the benefit of the believer in love with Jesus. His great pleasure is to declare in his sovereignty that he will deliver his child, and he does not need to ask anyone’s permission. See that the verse says “therefore,” which indicates that what has already been stated has led to this declaration of deliverance. I believe these things are resisting fear and speaking deliverance. “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him” (Psalms 91:15). How fitting this verse is to summarize our study. Understand that if you call upon the Lord, it states, “I will answer him” and “I will be with him in trouble.” Note closer that it says “in trouble,” meaning that you will still be in the fire, but he will be right by your side. Lastly, he says, “I will deliver him,” which differs from “I might deliver him.” Know that your great and mighty king is everything you need, and he is waiting for your prayer.
