Daily Prayer Guide - Sheltering with God

Read:

Psalm 91:1-7   ¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

² I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

³ Surely he will save you

from the fowler’s snare

and from the deadly pestilence.

⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the plague that destroys at midday.

⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

Consider:

Our homes are to be a place of refuge, safety, rest and respite and now we find ourselves sheltering in our homes.  These days we stay in our homes to keep us safe from a microscopic virus and to reduce the harm to the rest of our world. 

For some I have heard from, it is hard to stay in their homes when they would rather be someplace else.

For others, their homes are not what they want them to be and this becomes a time filled with anxiety and doesn’t feel like a shelter.

However, God provides us a home and an opportunity to know him and find rest for our hearts and renewal for our souls. 

We remember the words of Jesus who said:

John 14: 1-2

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

We often think of this passage as a reference to a time after we die and think of from a geographical standpoint as being in heaven.  But our Fathers house is available to us now and we can dwell with him in these days, even being in our homes. 

When we turn to the Psalms, we find a rich heritage of people who dwelt in God’s presence. 

James Montgomery Boice said “I have always thought of the Psalms as the deepest and most spiritual portion of the Word of God”

Listen to some of Psalm 91 was written by Moses who said:

¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

² I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

Moses knew plagues and enemies.  He knew great discouragement as well as great triumph in the Lord.  He also knew that everything, including his life, was a demonstration of God’s dwelling among men in a relationship of trust.

He says, “Whoever dwells” indicating this is a current and ongoing place of shelter with the Most High, the God who cuts down every threat to size.  He is not speaking of dwelling a heavenly home, but living daily with a God who is with him always.

We rest in the shadow of the Almighty, the Shaddai, the God who is greater and sustains us and is casting his shadow over us and there is nothing that overshadows him.   It is in him we find our covering.

He is my refuge and my fortress, my home is not my castle, but God is and he is a person who is capable to handle any and every challenge I face.  The question is whether I am looking to him. You may know  where to find him by his address but do you live in his house or are you trusting in the home you build.  

Moses knew what it was to dwell in his relationship with God and when we take his lead we join the ranks of the patriarchs who were not mere survivors of their days but victors who join in God’s procession.  They were people who placed their trust in him

Spurgeon wrote, “The blessings here promised are not for all believers, but for those who live in close fellowship with God. Every child of God looks towards the inner sanctuary and the mercy-seat, yet all do not dwell in the most holy place; they run to it at times, and enjoy occasional approaches, but they do not habitually reside in the mysterious presence.”

So here is the question: Do you live in close fellowship with God? Do you rest in the shadow of the Almighty? Is he your place of habitual dwelling? The psalm is written to urge you to trust and cling to God in all circumstances.

Prayer: Father, You are the one I look to cover me and my life.  When troubles surround me your presence in me is greater still

·      Thank God that you can find refuge under his wings.

·      Express to him what it means to you that he is your shield and fortress.

·      Pray for the areas of your life where you need to experience his faithfulness.

·      Receive his strength to live today with his shadow over you.

·      Ask that those who are living with the anxiety sheltering at home would find themselves living in the peace of his home.

Father, Thank you that provide us a home with you where we can find peace in the midst of this great struggle.     Amen 

Meditate:

John 14: 1-2

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?