Sept 18 - Psalm 91:1,4

¹ Those who live in the

shelter of the Most High

will find rest in the

shadow of the Almighty.

He will cover you with his feathers.

He will shelter you with his wings.

His faithful promises are

your armor and protection.

Psalm 91:1,4

This is a beautiful image, much like Jesus' longing, protective image in Matthew 23: "How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings..." God wants to be our "shelter" and "rest." 

He is, of course. He can do anything. Nevertheless, God grants us freedom and allows us to choose. Jesus says, "I desired to gather you ... as a hen gathers her brood ... and you were not willing." (A divine offer. A human rejection.)

A how about you? Do you want God's "shelter" and "rest"? (A divine offer.) Do you want God's "armor and protection"? (Part of the same divine offer.) If so, then are you willing (the human response) to access this gift. 

(Though God can and occasionally does intervene supernaturally to change hearts -- certainly much more than we'd ever expect -- God's normal way of working is giving us the freedom to respond. Will we choose God's armor and protection ... or not?)

In Ephesians 6, God tells us some definitive ways to outfit ourselves with the breastplates and shields (etc.) of righteousness, faith, truth, (etc.) and God's Word. 

Part of God's Word and Truth is highlighted here in this Psalm as armor -- God's promises. 

Sometimes when people come into office -- hurting, grieving, uncertain, and lost -- I will point them to a book of Bible promises. Thousands of biblical promises arranged into every category you can imagine. Words of hope arranged to address every sadness, worry, or fear that's threatening to drown you. 

Even the most faithful Christians sometimes get swallowed by the waves of life. This world is hard. Evil and death can be whelming -- sometimes overwhelming. But ... many of us aren't nearly as armed and protected as we could be because we aren't "willing" to spend adequate time in God's Word, to know more fully his character, to experience the wings of his mercy. 

There's no substitute for long-term biblical discipline. But if you have an immediate struggle, here are some biblical promises that may be wings of comfort over you ...

http://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/bible-promises

http://biblepromisesapp.com/about

In Christ's Love,

a guy who owns a chicken

and marvels at how her feathers

are simultaneous soft and

like a hard plastic shell

(Chickens are weird, but

God's design is miraculous)