The book of Psalms is a treasure trove of spiritual beauty. It is a book intended to be prayed back to the Lord. In fact, the great 20th century theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, “The more deeply we grow into the psalms and the more often we pray them as our own, the more simple and rich our prayer will become.” His insight here is helpful.
One way praying the psalms enriches our prayer life is that we can find freedom from anxiety through the Psalms. Among the greatest psalms to turn to for freedom from anxiety is Psalm 91. This psalm is truly medicine for the soul, and a type of medicine much needed in our current culture. Millions of people in the United States alone are diagnosed with chronic anxiety issues. And so we need a way to pray for faith over fear, and we find such a prayer in Psalm 91.
The psalmist begins this particular psalm with an emphasis on dwelling and abiding in God as our fortress. He writes in verses 1-2, “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him” (NLT).
The first way this psalm helps us gain freedom from anxiety is it reminds us of our ultimate location in Christ.
There are certain places that are scarier than others. Being in a deep dark wood known for having wolves, bears, and bobcats is scary…being tucked into our bed at night, knowing all the doors are locked, after having a nice family dinner feels much safer and more secure. Location can make a big difference in our levels of anxiety. The Bible tells us that “in God we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28 ESV), and Psalm 91 orients our minds to remember this, trust this, and take comfort in this. We dwell in the presence of God, wherever we are. Those who are faithful and mindful of this will have peace from this fact. If we are in church, our home, the courtroom, the doctor’s office, the football field, or anywhere else…ultimately, we are still in God’s presence. And where the Lord is, there is goodness, mercy, protection, and blessing.
Verses 3-7 highlight various ways the world can be chaotic. It speaks of terrors in the night, pestilence, calamity, and war; the Psalmist is not ignorant to the dangers of the world, and yet he refuses to allow the dangers of the world to cause him to cower in fear and be crushed by the weight of anxiety. Instead, he says in verses 10-11, “No evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go” (NLT).
Another way Psalm 91 encourages our hearts to be free from anxiety is by reminding us that God sends forth angels to guard us, encircle us, guide us, and protect us. There is a lot more going on in this world than meets the eye. We have angelic companions who are directly assigned by God, with the mission to watch over our lives. Knowing that we have a host of angels helping us and watching over us should bring our hearts a sense of peace and courage to face the difficulties the day can bring.
Finally, the psalmist tells us that God will protect the one who knows His name (verse 14) and He will answer the faithful when we call out to Him (verse 15). So here is the amazing news: if you know the name of the Lord, then God will always protect you in loving kindness. It is a promise of God to protect His children, and God always stays true to His promises. We can find freedom from anxiety by remembering that in life, in death, and in life beyond death God holds us, keeps us, watches over us, and protects us. In the light of this truth, what is there to fear?
Pray Psalm 91 at the start of the day and right before bed. Speak the words out loud. When a specific verse really brings comfort, speak it several times over and strive to memorize it. Ask God to use this psalm as a source of peace.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your protective grace. Give me peace amid the storms of life. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You. You are my shield and defender, Your angels guard my path, and I trust You. Help me to abide in Your love and share Your peace with others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
