Evotions

“For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go.” Psalm 91:11 (NLT)

 By Melanie Stone
This verse about angelic protection is for the believer who chooses to surrender their life to God and spend time in His presence. It goes on to say about angels in verse 12, “they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.” 

God’s promises for protection cover us when we are living in dependency upon the Lord. His promises are void for those who chose to live outside of the parameters of His will for their life. Jesus lived a life that was yielded to God. It is interesting to note that Satan himself is well acquainted with the Word of God. He quoted this verse to tempt Jesus to challenge God in Luke 4:9-12. Jesus responded with another scripture, “do not tempt (or test) the Lord your God.” 

When we daily surrender our life to the Lord, He will protect us. If we are in danger, angels are in place for our protection, as well as for other purposes. A Hebrews 1:14 says of angels, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” When there is a need, God may send an angel to satisfy that need. 

I can recall several times in my life when there has been unusual and unexplained help that has come my way. I remember one incident when I was a young child in Fort Wayne, Indiana, when I was riding my bike alongside a road with a large drop off on either side. I had lost control of the bike and saw myself headed for a dangerous crash. Suddenly, the handlebars of the bike were jerked, as if someone had grabbed them from me, and the bike turned back onto the road. I believe that God saved my life that day, perhaps with the help of an angel (Matthew 18:10). God wants us to trust Him to protect us. 

Application: In Hebrews 13:2, it says, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”  Realize that angels are around us, whether they are seen or unseen. Be open to God for the ministry of angels in serving His purpose in your life. 

“If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.” Psalm 91:9-10 (NLT) 

By Melanie Stone
Its undeniable that much of Psalm 91 is about God’s promise to keep sickness at a distance from those who are yielded to His Lordship and spend time in His presence.  In the verses above, God promises to keep disease from coming near our home. We also see God’s promise to keep, or to guard, our heath in verses 2,3,6, and 7: 

Verses 2-3: “This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him. For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.” 

Verses 6-7 “Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, thought ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.” 

Does this mean that if a Christian gets sick that they have not submitted their lives to God? I know several committed believers that have had to deal with sickness. I’ve questioned why. I believe the answer to this question is found in John 9:2-3. There was a man that had been born blind. His disciples asked Jesus the same question that I asked, “Why?” They wanted to know whose sin allowed the blindness in – was it the man’s sin or was it the parents’ sin? Their question was not unusual. The old covenant taught that obedience to the law brought blessing and disobedience brought cursing. Jesus answered, “It was not because of his sins or his parent’s sins…this happened so the power of God could be seen in him.” Then Jesus healed the man, and as a result, God was glorified.

So we see that if a believer is sick, it isn’t always because they have done something to bring it upon themselves. However, the Bible tell us in John 3:23 that all of us have sinned and fallen short of knowing the full glory of God. None of us have a lived a perfect life that is deserving of God’s blessings. Our hope for protection from disease under the new covenant is found in Jesus Christ. He took the penalty for sin so that our position with God is based on grace. If we choose to, we can yield our life to Him and come underneath the shelter of the Most High. He will protect us from disease as we spend time in His presence. He has also offered to heal us of any disease that we may encounter while living on the earth for the purpose of making Himself known. 

Application:  Thank God for the protection He has given you from disease. If you have an illness in your body, there is hope for your health.  Bring yourself into God’s presence; He has the power you need. In addition, remember that you are not alone. Find other believers that will go to God with you in prayer and in worship, people that will love you and be by your side through your journey to wholeness. 

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 (NLT)

By Melanie Stone
Psalm 91 is one of the more familiar passages of scriptures on the protection of God. Verse one speaks of the shelter that we have in God. A shelter is a covering that protects you by taking the impact of an element or strike against you. A shelter is a place that you go underneath or inside to find protection.

Our shelter is God. God promises to cover us when we yield ourselves to His care and authority. We find a covering that shields us from harm when we allow God to position us inside Christ. What do we need a covering to shield us from? We can find peace and rest from stress and demanding pressures. We find shelter from arrogant criticisms of controlling people who want to tear us down. We find safety from the effects of sin, such as, addictions, emotional anguish, mental fatigue, physical illness, financial distress, and the like. We can find a refuge from spiritual onslaughts planned against us from our enemy, the devil. Notice our God is referred to as “the Most High” and “the Almighty.” There is nothing and there is no one that is a higher authority or operates with power than the God who created and sustains life. Our God offers us to come underneath or inside His covering.

We find our rest and our safety when we are walking in the shadow of God. A shadow is an image cast when a body intercepts light. If you are in God’s shadow, you must be close to Him. God is a spirit, so the way to approach God is spiritual. From your heart, or spirit, you can experience a relationship with the Most High, the Almighty. God’s shadow provides you with shade, another expression of His loving protection that He wants to offer you when you come near to Him. 

Application: If you were at a park with a pavilion and it began to rain and hail, you could run underneath the pavilion and rest until the storm passed. When you need to rest or find peace from something or someone that has come against you, run to God and spend some time with Him in the spirit. Not only will you find a place of safety, you will also find that God will provide you with all you need to overcome any challenge that tries to come against you.