Finding Safety and Strength in God's Shadow

Devotional

Day 1: Living in the Shelter of the Most High

To live in the shelter of the Most High is not just a comforting promise, but a daily commitment to let God be your true protector and provider in every circumstance—not just when you feel desperate or out of options. This means making God your first choice, not your last resort, and intentionally choosing to dwell in His presence, trusting Him to shield you from life’s storms even when you think you can handle things on your own. It’s a call to surrender your self-reliance and pride, and to make your home in the safety of God’s covering, allowing Him to be your constant refuge. [01:18:50]

Psalm 91:1-2 (NRSV)
You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you tend to rely on your own strength before turning to God for shelter? What would it look like to make God your first refuge today, not your last resort?

Day 2: Abiding in the Shadow—The Blessing of Humility and Surrender

Abiding in the shadow of the Almighty means willingly taking a position of humility, letting God lead while you follow, even when it means giving up your desire for recognition or control. In God’s shadow, you are protected, hidden from harm, and able to move with confidence because you are covered by His presence. This requires daily surrender—choosing to stay in step with God’s timing, waiting when He says wait, and moving when He says move, trusting that His way is always better than your own. [01:34:04]

Psalm 91:1 (NRSV)
You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty…

Reflection: Where in your life are you struggling to let God lead instead of seeking your own way? How can you practice humility and surrender to His timing and direction today?

Day 3: The Work of Forgiveness and Letting God Be Your Defender

Letting God be your shelter means resisting the urge to take revenge or handle things your own way, and instead trusting Him to be your defender and vindicator. This is not passive; it’s active obedience—choosing to forgive, to turn the other cheek, and to love your enemies, even when it feels unnatural or unfair. By following Jesus’ teaching, you allow God’s justice and mercy to work in your life, freeing you from bitterness and opening the door to true peace. [01:23:09]

Matthew 5:38-45 (NRSV)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs

Sermon Summary

Psalm 91 reminds us that in a world filled with uncertainty, danger, and fear, there is a place of safety and confidence for those who choose to dwell in the shelter and abide in the shadow of the Almighty. This is not a passive promise, but an active calling: to make God our continual refuge, not just in moments of crisis, but as a way of life. The text challenges us to move beyond seeking God only when we are desperate, and instead to live daily under His protection, guidance, and authority.

The imagery of shelter and shadow is especially poignant for those who have known oppression or hardship. For Israel in slavery, for our ancestors in the fields, and for anyone who has ever felt marginalized, the shadow of God is not a place of obscurity, but of preservation and hope. The shadow is not about hiding from life, but about positioning ourselves so that God leads, covers, and shields us. It is a place where we are less visible to our enemies, where we are cooled from the heat of life’s trials, and where we can conserve our strength for the journey ahead.

Yet, living in God’s shelter and abiding in His shadow requires humility and patience. It means surrendering our desire to lead, to retaliate, or to make our own way. It means waiting for God’s timing, moving when He moves, and staying put when He says wait. This is often the hardest part—trusting God’s wisdom over our own, especially when the way forward is unclear or when our pride wants to step out into the light on our own terms.

But when we truly live in His shelter and abide in His shadow, our faith becomes personal. We move from knowing about God to knowing Him as “my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” Our testimony is no longer borrowed from others, but forged in our own experience of God’s faithfulness. We are able to stand and declare, even in the midst of trouble, that God is our deliverer, protector, and sustainer. And as we heard in Brother Matthew’s testimony, God’s grace is available to all who are willing to surrender, regardless of their past. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus—only freedom, restoration, and new life.

Key Takeaways

1. Living in God’s Shelter Is a Daily Choice, Not a Crisis Response The promises of Psalm 91 are for those who make their home in God’s shelter, not just those who visit when trouble comes. This means intentionally allowing God to be our protector and guide every day, not just when we feel overwhelmed. It challenges us to trust Him first, rather than as a last resort after our own efforts have failed. [78:50]
2. Abiding in the Shadow Requires Humility and Surrender To abide in God’s shadow is to accept a position where He leads and we follow, even when it means giving up our desire for recognition or control. The shadow is a place of humility, where we acknowledge that God’s ways are higher than ours and that His covering is our greatest advantage. This surrender is not weakness, but the path to true strength and security. [94:04]
3. God’s Timing Is Essential—Wait for His Move Staying in the shadow means moving in step with God, not running ahead or lagging behind. Impatience can lead us out from under His protection, while waiting on His timing allows us to be prepared, equipped, and covered for what lies ahead. Sometimes the hardest lesson is to be still until God says it’s time to move, trusting that His timing is perfect. [99:28]
4. Personal Faith Is Born from Experience, Not Inheritance The journey from “he who dwells” to “my God in whom I trust” is a personal one. While we can be inspired by the faith of others, it is only by living through our own trials and trusting God in them that our faith becomes real and unshakeable. Our testimony is forged in the shelter and shadow, where God proves Himself faithful to us individually. [99:28]
5. God’s Grace Welcomes All Who Surrender, No Matter Their Past As seen in Brother Matthew’s testimony, God’s shelter and shadow are open to everyone, regardless of their history or mistakes. There is no condemnation for those who come to Christ; instead, there is freedom, restoration, and a new family in the body of believers. Surrendering to God’s way opens the door to transformation and belonging. [108:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[60:35] - Opening Prayer and Thanksgiving
[62:52] - Scripture Reading: Psalm 91
[66:11] - Invitation and Introduction: Stick to the Shadows
[67:29] - Intergenerational Wisdom and Community
[70:11] - The Power and Relevance of the Psalms
[72:32] - Context of Psalm 91: Danger and Trust
[78:50] - The Prerequisite of Living in God’s Shelter
[83:09] - The Challenge of Abiding in the Shadow
[90:07] - Personal Story: Learning to Embrace the Shadow
[94:04] - The Blessing and Lessons of the Shadow
[99:28] - Humility, Timing, and Abiding
[108:21] - Testimony: Brother Matthew’s Story
[110:57] - Invitation to Respond and Join
[120:03] - Welcoming New Members
[122:30] - Announcements, Giving, and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 91 (ESV) — > 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
> will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
> 2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
> my God, in whom I trust.”
> 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
> and from the deadly pestilence.
> 4 He will cover you with his pinions,
> and under his wings you will find refuge;
> his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
> ...
> 14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
> I will protect him, because he knows my name.
> 15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
> I will be with him in trouble;
> I will rescue him and honor him.
> 16 With long life I will satisfy him
> and show him my salvation.”

Observation Questions

According to Psalm 91:1, what does it mean to “dwell in the shelter of the Most High” and “abide in the shadow of the Almighty”?
In the sermon, what are some of the dangers and hardships mentioned that the original audience of Psalm 91 faced? ([01:12:32])
What is the difference between “living in God’s shelter” and just “visiting” it, as described in the sermon? ([01:18:50])
How does the imagery of “shadow” in Psalm 91 connect to the idea of humility and following God’s lead? ([01:34:04])

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that living in God’s shelter is a daily choice, not just a crisis response. Why might it be tempting to only seek God’s protection when we are desperate? ([01:18:50])
What does it look like, practically, to “abide in the shadow” and let God lead, especially when we want recognition or control? ([01:34:04])
The pastor shared that personal faith is born from experience, not inheritance. How does going through your own trials help you move from “knowing about God” to “knowing God”? ([01:39:28])
The testimony of Brother Matthew was highlighted as an example of God’s grace. What does his story teach about who is welcome in God’s shelter and shadow? ([01:48:21])

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to make God our continual refuge, not just in moments of crisis. Are there areas in your life where you only turn to God as a last resort? What would it look like to invite Him in daily, even when things seem under control? ([01:18:50])
“Abiding in the shadow” means letting God lead and being willing to give up our desire for recognition or control. Is there a situation right now where you are struggling to let God lead? What is holding you back from surrendering? ([01:34:04])
The pastor talked about the importance of waiting for God’s timing and not running ahead. Can you think of a time when impatience led you out from under God’s protection? What did you learn from that experience? ([01:39:28])
The sermon says that the shadow is a place of humility and strength. How can you practice humility this week in a relationship or decision, trusting that God’s covering is your greatest advantage? ([01:34:04])
Brother Matthew’s testimony showed that God’s grace is available to all, no matter their past. Is there any part of your story or past that makes you feel unworthy of God’s shelter? How does Romans 8:1 (“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”) speak to that? ([01:48:21])
The pastor said, “Don’t just visit his shelter, live there.” What is one practical step you can take this week to make God’s presence your home, not just a place you go when you’re in trouble? ([01:18:50])
The journey from “he who dwells” to “my God in whom I trust” is personal. What is one way you can share your own testimony of God’s faithfulness with someone else this month? ([01:39:28])

Sermon Clips

The shelter is about allowing him to protect me from what's harming me allowing him to be the one who vindicates me when something is harming me the shadow was all about position if you're in the shadow this means that somebody else is in front if you're in the shadow this means you're not leading it means that you're following if you're in the shadow it means that you don't get the shine if you're in the shadow it means that you are in the position of being beneath and below and being surrendered while somebody else is in the lead and in front. [01:27:06] (42 seconds) #FollowingInHisShadow

Because I'll tell y 'all today and I'll tell anybody who I ever encounter that making the decision to trust God with this thing and follow in my father's footsteps oh Lord I said it and follow in his shadow is the best decision that I've made for my life because being in the shadows can be the biggest blessing of your life if the person whose shadow you're in is there to protect you and preserve you and shield you and cover you. [01:31:25] (44 seconds) #BlessingsInTheShadow

One of the things about being in the shadows is that when you're in the shadows you're harder to target from enemies and adversaries in the shadows your enemies can't see you as clearly as they can when you're in the daylight in the shadow you're cooler because the sun isn't bearing down on you when you have some shade in the shadow you can conserve some of your energy right because you're not burning out as fast as you do when you're out in the open when you're in the shadows your vision is clearer because the sun isn't blinding you when you're in the shadows you have a strategic advantage because you can move with cover not exposed and if that's true physically how much greater is it spiritually when it's God's shadow that we're under. [01:32:21] (53 seconds) #StrategicSpiritualShade

In his shadow I don't have to lead in my own strength I just follow his steps and I've learned you can't go wrong abiding in God's shadow but how do you stay in the shadow in order to stay in the shadow I have to understand that he's bigger than I am and I'm under him staying in the shadows requires humility requires humility and I know y 'all looking at me like duh pastor okay live it every day every day really surrender your will to his every single day every single decision live with humility to acknowledge that his ways are higher than ours that his thoughts are greater than ours that he can see farther than I can see. [01:34:11] (65 seconds) #HumilityInHisShadow

But it also means the flip side when he goes I got to move I got to be ready to go even when I'm afraid even when I'm scared even when I can't see what's ahead of me if he's moving I got to trust that as long as I'm in his shadow I'm gonna be all right yeah we gonna be all right as long as we stick to the shadows because God is covering us. [01:38:46] (36 seconds) #TrustingGodsMovement

Don't just visit his shelter live there don't just step into his shade sometimes abide there and don't despise the shadow that's the best place you can be because it is shadow you're protected your position and you can be prepared and like Israel and Egypt like our ancestors in America you too will be able to say for yourself the Lord is my refuge the Lord is my fortress he is my God in whom I trust but you don't get there if you don't live this thing out. [01:42:11] (44 seconds) #PersonalRefugeAndFortress

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