Day 17: Psalm 91

If there’s one Psalm I could encourage everyone to pray right now, it might be Psalm 91. There is powerful imagery, divine safety, and a promise of shelter from any storm.

The image of God in the “shelter of the Most High” has relevance to us all right now, as we are all being asked to shelter in place. Apparently, God is doing the same, except for very different reasons. Where we may be restless, God is a God of rest. Take a moment to read the opening.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, Psalm 91:1-5

I’ve lost track of how many times through the years I have prayed verse four. To be more specific, I’ve often just prayed the word “feathers” when I don’t know what to pray. A year ago, we had a mama duck in our backyard that nested for a month and then gave birth to twelve ducklings. The first night they were in the world, I went to bed and she had all twelve of the ducks tucked under her wings. When I woke up, she hadn’t moved. She knew that because they were now in the world, they were in danger.

That’s the image we are given here in verse four. God is a bird, protecting His young from the dangers of this world. You are not on your own right now. This is a powerful image in the Psalms, David uses it again in Psalm 61. Through the years, when I have found myself in danger, filled with fear, without words to pray, I often just whisper the word “feathers” under my breath. There have been times I have just said it over and over again.

As you find yourself with the “arrows that fly by day” coming all around, may you whisper “feathers” to bring calm and truth to your spirit.

Jared