We cannot take safety for granted
In an age where new strains of diseases are likely emerging as we speak, where terror attacks could strike anywhere from concerts to cafes, and where natural disasters are on the rise both in frequency and in magnitude, perhaps you have wondered: “Will I be next? Will God really protect me and my family in the year ahead?”
Perhaps you have cancelled a vacation because of civil unrest. Or news of terrifying shootings have left you wondering whether it’s the last time you’ll see your kids as you drop them off at school. But my friend, God does not want your heart to be overwhelmed by fear over your or your family’s safety.
Look at His assurance of His protection over you, His beloved child, in Psalm 91:1:
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.God wants you so secure in this promise that like the psalmist David, you can say this of Him:
“He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.” (Ps. 91:2, NLT)You might be wondering though: Am I qualified to dwell in God’s secret place of safety?
Yes, a thousand times over! If God did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for you, you can be sure that He will, with Jesus, freely give you all things (see Rom. 8:32)—which certainly includes His protection. Jesus qualified you to be in this secret place forever through His finished work.
Plus, this secret place is not a geographical location: It is in Christ. The word “dwell” in the verse’s original Hebrew is the word yashab*, which means to sit down, to remain, or to settle—and the Bible says that we are seated in Christ Jesus (see Eph. 2:6). In other words, the secret place is a place of nearness to God. It’s where we live at rest within the very Person who purchased protection for us through His death on the cross.
Abide Under His Shadow In fact, Psalm 91:1 speaks of this closeness—it says that you shall abide under the shadow of God Almighty Himself.
Perhaps you’ve never felt close to God. Perhaps you have always seen God as an angry God. But nothing could be further from the truth. The Bible tells us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16), and that He delights in showing unfailing love (see Mic. 7:18, NLT).
As imperfect people, we will fail God in some way or another—but His heart of love and willingness to protect us never fails. In fact, He says that He has loved us with an everlasting love (see Jer. 31:3, NLT). And it is God’s perfect love that “turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror” (1 John 4:18, AMPC).
Run Into God’s Loving Arms As a child, if there were a scary thunderstorm at night, I used to run into my parents’ room, leap into their bed, and hide in my mother’s arms. And within moments, I would fall into a deep, peaceful sleep.
The storm could still be raging outside, but one thing had changed—I was now in my mother’s loving arms, which banished all my fears. Likewise, the world’s threats and dangers are not going to go away anytime soon, but we can live fearlessly when we know that we are always in the embrace of our all-loving, all-powerful Father in heaven.
So this year, will you see yourself safe in His secret place, the place where you can’t get any closer to Him? Instead of giving place to fear, you can give place to meditating and resting upon this amazing truth.
Beloved, this is how dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, and abiding under His shadow will become a reality for you. Whatever arrows the devil may shoot at you, no weapon formed against you shall prosper as you dwell in this place of intimacy, security, and safety in our Lord Jesus!
