Psalm 91 is popular with those who are longing for God’s great protection because this beautiful Psalm provides comfort and promises to the reader in need. However, this Psalm isn’t meant to be a magic formula for someone to just pick up, read, and expect that all of a sudden everything will be ok. Unfortunately, there are some who have drifted away from God because they didn’t see quick results when they breezed through this Psalm or another, or when they said a short prayer hoping God would swoop in and save the day.

If you can relate to this tendency to look for God’s quick and easy rescue, there’s something missing and it’s you.

For example, in Psalm 91, you are promised that He will be your shield. But you have to get behind The Shield if you want it to actually protect you.

Get Behind Him With Your Heart & Mind

Press yourself so close to The Shield that there’s less space between you and Him. Since He promises to shield you all day long (Duet. 33:12), look at Him, think about Him, and talk to Him all day long (Jn 15:9; Thess. 5:17; Js. 4:8). May you be pressed up close to The Shield so that you eventually take its shape – looking and functioning more like Him (Phil. 2:2, 5; Phil. 3:10; 1 Jn. 3:2).

Get Behind Him With Your Actions

Get behind what He stands for and what He requires. All His ways are perfect, fair, good, right, loving, and faithful (Dt. 32:4; 1 Sam. 12:23b; Ps. 25:10), so commit to respect, obey, and follow His commands. Then, when you take up The Shield to pray and trust in Psalm 91 (Eph. 6:16), He will acknowledge the one standing behind Him (Mt. 25:12).