Pastor Jeanne Miller

     There are many things we can think of to thank the Lord for in this month of  Thanksgiving.  If you woke up this morning, you can be thankful.  If you have a roof over your head, you can be thankful.  If the Lord has ever healed you, your children, your family, you can be thankful.  The list goes on and on.  But I thank Him for the love of His word that He has put in my heart.  His word is so precious to Christians who walk with Him.  Without it we would not know His character, His love, His grace and mercy, the promises He has promised us and our righteousness in Jesus.  Without the word we could never walk in faith, because it takes knowing someone to have faith that they will do what they say.  Our Heavenly Father has made it so easy to abide in Him but without the Bible we would not know or understand what abiding in Him means.  It holds the key to a victorious life, an overcoming life, and that’s the way I plan on living here on earth. 

 If I only could have one scripture out of the whole Bible to meditate on, it would have to be Psalm 91.  To me it represents the life that Jesus bought for us with His death and resurrection.  It represents complete protection, divine health, provision, and forgiveness, every aspect of living needed.   I especially like to read it from The Amplified Bible.  In the first two verses we have the basis for the promises given in this psalm.  “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].  I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!”  Ps. 91:1-2  The person who dwells (inhabits) the secret place of God is one who is obedient to His word and has a relationship with Him.  That’s not hard to do!  And when we do it, we remain fixed under the shelter of God Himself and His protection that is afforded by staying with Him.  There is something we need to say and believe and I find myself saying these words many times throughout the day, especially as we were facing an unknown enemy who had set out to hurt the people of Montgomery County.  The Lord is my Refuge and my Fortress!  I rely on Him to do what He says He will do and I trust that He has my life well in His hands. 

 In verses 3-6, we find every promise that we need to walk in confidence and victory knowing that our God takes care of us in every circumstance, in every situation.  “For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.  [Then] He will cover you with his pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.  You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.”  We have protection and are delivered from all fear as we stay in the secret place of the Most High.  Oh that His people truly understood and believed this about Him.  It would bring such confidence into our lives! 

 These next verses are so timely for us!  “A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.  Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.  Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, there shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.  For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].  They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.  You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot.”  Verses 7-13  The only comment needed on these verses are that what you don’t know about God can definitely hurt you, and even may kill you.  If you don’t know God as your Protector and Keeper, you put yourself in a position of not being protected.  Sadly, many Christians have never been taught this aspect of our God. 

 The last three verses of Psalm 91 are God saying what He will do for the person who dwells in the secret place and says who God is to him.  “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness-trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].  He shall call  upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.”  Verses 14-16

 Even if we had not had a sniper trying to put fear and disorder into our lives, I would still have written about Psalm 91 because it has the answers for every situation.  I am still doing my 2 mile walk outside everyday.  I was not walking just to show everyone that I wasn’t going to fear but I was continuing my walks because I was assured that God is with me each and every morning as I spent time with Him.  If at any time He put it on my heart not to walk, I would not.  That’s walking in the protection of God.  He shows you what you can do and maybe sometimes what you need to stay away from.  I thank my Heavenly Father everyday that I am His child and He cares and loves me.  It’s a secure, safe place to live-in His perfect will.