As this year of 2020 comes to a close, it will be remembered as the year of “great fear.” Fear of death, fear of family loss, fear of job loss, fear of home loss, and fear of financial loss have gripped, incapacitated, and overwhelmed so many people. Although we have faced an unprecedented year of challenges and life-changing experiences, the promises of God’s presence and His protection given to us by God in Psalm 91 remain unchanged. In Malachi 3:6, God declares “For I am the Lord, I change not.” God does not change and the promises and reality of His Word given to us in the Bible do not change. The Holy Spirit assures us of this reality in Psalm 119:89 where it says, “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven standing firm and unchangeable.” (AMP)
Difficult times will come and go, but God and His Word will remain the same. He can be trusted and what He declares in His Word can be trusted. In 1 Corinthians 9:1, we are told “God is faithful, He is reliable, trustworthy and ever true to His promise—He can be depended on, and through Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (AMP)
Praying and believing the realities of Psalm 91 is one of the best spiritual and emotional remedies for every kind of fear. I have often counseled those who were experiencing fear to pray Psalm 91 whenever fears try to disrupt their peace of mind or challenge their trust in God. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 promises, “The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you, setting you on a firm foundation, and will protect and guard you from the evil one.” (AMP)
In 1933, amid the Great Depression and facing a crippling economy with people waiting in bread lines for food, Franklin D. Roosevelt, our 32nd President, made the now-famous statement in his inaugural speech, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” In other words, fear can only exist if we let it exist. Fear cannot exist when we choose to trust in God and believe in His Word.
Three years ago this week, December 29, 2017, I posted a blog entitled “Dwelling in the Secret Place.” On September 1, 2017, a few months earlier, I posted a blog entitled “My ‘Go-to’ Psalm.” Both of these blog posts explain why Psalm 91 is one of the most encouraging, inspiring, and fear defeating of the 150 Psalms. If you have not read these two blogs, I encourage you to do so or if have read them before, you may want to read them again. They will strengthen your spirit, remind you of God’s desire for you, and put to flight any fears that may be challenging your life or your faith.
2020, the year of fear, is about to be in our rear-view mirror and we have a new year ahead of us. Let us purpose to keep Psalm 91 at our side as our weapon against any and all fears, praying it whenever we are tempted by fear. Let us rest in and be encouraged by the truth that “God is in control” and know for certain we have nothing, absolutely nothing to fear. Let me conclude with an assuring promise from God spoken by Him in Isaiah 41:10 which says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (NIV)
Psalm 91
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and [b]buckler.
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.
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.
Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
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.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
“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.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”
Heartfelt greetings Pastor Richard, it was so good to get your blog and read the message of comfort, like getting “good news from a far away country”, as the proverb says. It is a message to keep in one’s back pocket for sure. Thank you so much for taking the time to feed your “virtual” flock. May God’s abundant blessings of love and peace be upon you and your family as we enter the New Year, Cynthia H.