The scripture and a Psalm 91 prayer based off of scripture.
Interesting Notes about 91st Psalm
Chapter 91 from the book of Psalms has been called the Soldier’s Psalm or the Soldier’s Prayer. This scripture is favored by soldiers who like to recite the chapter as a prayer of protection.
United States troops often receive a camo-pattern kerchief printed with the words from the Psalm.
It has been said that the 91st Brigade in World War I spoke this scripture every single day. During one of the fiercest battles, they didn’t have one death related to combat, but other units had up to 90%.
Psalm 91 is frequently said as a prayer of safekeeping. Even during times of difficulty, many people view this portion of scripture as a source of security and reassurance.
Psalm Chapter 91: New International Version (NIV) Translation
- 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,
- Nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
- A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
- You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
- If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,
- No harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.
- For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
- They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
- You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
- “Because he loves Me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name.
- He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
- With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”
A Psalm 91 Prayer
Precious Lord,
Because You are my refuge and my place of safety, I praise You.
I put my trust in You because You are my God.
For the greatness of Your protection, I thank You.
Thank You for rescuing me over and over again,
For covering me and sheltering me.
As You are my haven and my shelter, I choose not to be afraid.
For ordering Your angels to protect me wherever I go, I praise You.
Because You answer when I call upon You, I thank You.
It brings me such comfort to know that You are always with me.
Please guide me to walk so close to You that I find rest in Your shadow.
You give me strength and bravery, You are so powerful and kind.
I am grateful that You set Your love on me, for Your protection and help.
Thank You for Your promise of rescue, for the confidence of triumph!
Amen
What does “dwells in the shelter of the Most High” mean?
Verse 1 of Psalm 91 says, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” To get a deeper understanding of this verse, let’s take a look at the definitions of several words:
The word “dwell” means “live in or at a specified place.” “Shelter” means “something that covers or affords protection.” “Most High” is a name for God, who has all power and is the ruler of everything.
“Dwelling in the shelter of the Most High” is living underneath the vow of God’s protection.
This type of dwelling is the daily experience of a person who is completely at home in the security and comfort of God, in spite of the fact that they may be oppressed or frightened by danger.
To clarify, God’s children are not always unaffected by plague and pestilence, but they are always sheltered from harmful spiritual forces as they dwell in the shelter of the Most High.
Quote about Not Being Afraid
Verse 5 says, “You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day.” Here is a great quote about not being fearful:
Preacher Charles Spurgeon
“Not to be afraid is in itself an unspeakable blessing, since for every suffering which we endure from real injury we are tormented by a thousand griefs which arise from fear only.”
A Personal Note
Did you notice that the word “you” is found 15 times in Psalm 91? God made this message personal. Try reading the chapter over again and replacing the word “you” with “me” or your name.
In Conclusion
The essence of Psalm 91 isn’t that God’s children (those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ) won’t experience trouble in this life, but it does give the promise of protection from God during difficulties and uncertainties.
Certainly absolute confidence and devotion to God is of the greatest importance. This kind of confidence is the result of having a very close friendship with God.
So, in order to have this type of relationship, it is necessary to prioritize our connection to God by: Spending time speaking to Him, listening to Him, reading the Bible, thinking of Him, loving Him, telling other people about His love, and cheerfully making sacrifices for Him.
I’d love to hear from you! Have a thought or comment? Please leave it at the bottom of the page.
Thank you, and it is my prayer that you have a very blessed day! ❤
You may also like:
Prayers for Protection
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Psalm 51 Good News Bible
Psalm 91 NLT (New Living Translation)
Psalm 91 Good News Bible
To Personalize Psalm 91 as a Covenant Prayer for yourself or someone you know, click here: Focus on the Family. It’s the 2nd link in the article.
To read an interesting story about Dwight L. Moody (an American evangelist) and Psalm 91, click here: Moody Church Media
Here is a Psalm 91 Reading – Prayer for Protection video: