Chapter 8: Sheltered by Faith: Ep 3: Faith as Our Fortress: Living Under the Shelter of the Almighty

WEBVTT

00:00:00.017 --> 00:00:04.537
Welcome back to the Diary of Black Women podcast.

00:00:04.957 --> 00:00:10.197
I'm your host Connie Morris and I'm excited to have you join me for the third

00:00:10.197 --> 00:00:14.817
episode of our series, Sheltered by Faith.

00:00:15.417 --> 00:00:20.637
Today we'll be exploring the scripture's most powerful promises,

00:00:21.217 --> 00:00:23.877
God as our refuge and fortress.

00:00:24.437 --> 00:00:31.817
This episode is titled, Dwelling in God's Shelter, Protection and Refuge.

00:00:31.977 --> 00:00:35.577
We'll unpack Psalms, no I'm not, slow down here.

00:00:35.797 --> 00:00:43.357
We will unpack Psalms 91.1 and discuss how to make dwelling in God's presence

00:00:43.357 --> 00:00:48.397
a daily practice that shields us from life's challenges.

00:00:49.137 --> 00:00:51.917
Let's start with Psalms 91.1.

00:00:52.837 --> 00:00:58.677
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

00:00:59.177 --> 00:01:04.557
This verse is packed with assurance. To dwell means to abide,

00:01:04.857 --> 00:01:07.637
to remain, or to live in God's presence.

00:01:07.697 --> 00:01:14.537
It's not about visiting God in times of trouble, but about staying connected to him in every moment.

00:01:14.537 --> 00:01:22.257
When we dwell in his shelter, we're covered by his protection and find rest

00:01:22.257 --> 00:01:25.117
in his shadow. Oh, that's so good.

00:01:25.397 --> 00:01:29.357
Oh, that's so good. It's not like visiting God when you're in trouble.

00:01:29.597 --> 00:01:34.777
It's like staying with God no matter what, good, bad, or ugly times.

00:01:34.977 --> 00:01:39.817
The image of God as a shelter reminds us of his constant care.

00:01:39.817 --> 00:01:45.317
He is our refuge, a place of fortress, a face, a place of safety,

00:01:45.517 --> 00:01:49.817
and our fortress, strong and unmovable against any attacks.

00:01:50.997 --> 00:01:57.457
Psalms 91 is often called the Psalm of Protection because it contains incredible

00:01:57.457 --> 00:02:01.017
promises of safety and deliverance.

00:02:01.157 --> 00:02:04.817
Let's reflect on some examples of God's divine intervention.

00:02:05.937 --> 00:02:13.277
Consider the Israelites in Exodus. During the final plague in Egypt,

00:02:13.617 --> 00:02:18.297
God instructed them to place the blood of lamb on their doorposts.

00:02:18.337 --> 00:02:25.177
As a result, the angel of death passed over their home, sparing their firstborns, Exodus 12, 13.

00:02:26.604 --> 00:02:29.604
How many times have we done anything of such?

00:02:29.784 --> 00:02:37.964
I mean, we all have our own personal testimony how God has delivered us from harm.

00:02:40.724 --> 00:02:46.884
I'm cooking and I'm trying to podcast, which is probably not a good idea, ladies out there.

00:02:47.184 --> 00:02:51.944
And so I smell the food and I'm trying to rush. And I know it's not ready yet,

00:02:51.964 --> 00:02:56.684
but I'm going to take my time and get through this. But as a retired police

00:02:56.684 --> 00:03:01.824
officer, I can tell you many times that God has protected me.

00:03:02.564 --> 00:03:05.684
And so I know that God has protected me.

00:03:05.804 --> 00:03:12.644
And so that's my testimony, some miraculous times that he has protected me.

00:03:12.924 --> 00:03:18.644
And so we know that Psalms 91 is a powerful scripture. And I was a new Christian,

00:03:18.644 --> 00:03:27.044
and I can tell you that I experienced some powerful, miraculous events where God has delivered me.

00:03:27.524 --> 00:03:32.684
But I want you to think about your life when you have experienced God's protection.

00:03:33.084 --> 00:03:36.484
How did his presence bring peace in that moment?

00:03:37.124 --> 00:03:40.664
Think about it when we know that we are protected.

00:03:42.444 --> 00:03:46.604
So how do we practically dwell in a shelter of the Most High?

00:03:47.164 --> 00:03:53.484
Here are three steps. Number one, abide through prayer. Spend intentional time

00:03:53.484 --> 00:03:54.964
in God's presence daily.

00:03:55.264 --> 00:04:00.644
Share your heart with him and listen for his voice. The Lord is near to all

00:04:00.644 --> 00:04:06.204
who call on him and all who call on him in truth. That sounds 145, 18.

00:04:06.964 --> 00:04:12.304
Meditate on his word. Memorize and meditate on scriptures like Psalms 91.

00:04:12.304 --> 00:04:17.564
Let his promises anchor your heart, especially during times of fear.

00:04:17.784 --> 00:04:22.164
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

00:04:22.344 --> 00:04:28.104
Sounds 119.11. It's always good to know and memorize the scripture because it's

00:04:28.104 --> 00:04:31.084
so close to you that you can just, you don't,

00:04:31.871 --> 00:04:37.831
You, you, you'll say it out of your heart from not just from just memory.

00:04:38.051 --> 00:04:44.071
It's just, it's in you. It's who you are. It has become a part of you and declare his protection.

00:04:44.351 --> 00:04:51.191
Speak God's word over your life. Declare his protection, his promises of protection and peace daily.

00:04:51.671 --> 00:04:55.211
Words of faith build a spiritual hedge around you.

00:04:55.471 --> 00:04:58.651
Remember we are sheltered by faith.

00:04:58.871 --> 00:05:04.571
And so when we believe God, We are sheltered by faith.

00:05:05.451 --> 00:05:10.791
You know, I have so many different dreams. I remember having this dream and

00:05:10.791 --> 00:05:13.231
I had on, I had, I don't remember.

00:05:13.471 --> 00:05:17.251
I was at this dream and I was fighting in my dream, but I also remember I had

00:05:17.251 --> 00:05:19.671
on my breastplate, my whole armor arm, right?

00:05:19.911 --> 00:05:24.371
And in this dream, as this, whatever I was fighting was trying to take off this

00:05:24.371 --> 00:05:29.731
armor that I had on. And every time they would take it off, it will replace

00:05:29.731 --> 00:05:31.151
itself supernaturally.

00:05:31.311 --> 00:05:33.811
It will just replace supernaturally, you know.

00:05:33.971 --> 00:05:42.091
And so that reminds me all the time that you want to keep your armor on because God has given to you.

00:05:42.171 --> 00:05:45.551
And so just like your faith, your faith is your armor.

00:05:45.731 --> 00:05:52.811
It's your shield around you. It protects you. And so never let that shield just fall down, get low.

00:05:52.991 --> 00:05:55.951
Keep that shield high. It shelters you.

00:05:56.091 --> 00:06:01.991
Psalm 91 is that shelter that protects you from what's going on out in the world,

00:06:01.991 --> 00:06:05.431
what's going on even in the spirit realm, right?

00:06:05.531 --> 00:06:11.651
So you always want to have that faith up. And so when I was like, Lord, what is that?

00:06:11.751 --> 00:06:18.751
You have a supernatural armor on that shields and protects you that nothing can remove you.

00:06:18.871 --> 00:06:24.091
And nothing can shake you. And it's put there by your prayer life.

00:06:24.571 --> 00:06:28.871
You got to understand your prayer life is what puts that shield out there.

00:06:29.071 --> 00:06:34.391
No prayer life, no shield. So you abide in prayer. You abide in faith.

00:06:34.391 --> 00:06:41.691
You meditate on the word and you walking around and you are fully armed and protected. Amen.

00:06:42.091 --> 00:06:47.891
So abide through prayer, meditate on this word and declare his protection.

00:06:48.511 --> 00:06:52.551
Let's take a moment to declare God's promises over our life.

00:06:52.691 --> 00:06:58.351
I decree and declare that I dwell in the shelter of the most high and I rest

00:06:58.351 --> 00:07:04.811
in the shadow of the almighty. The Lord is my refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.

00:07:05.191 --> 00:07:08.271
Psalm 91 verses 1 and 2.

00:07:08.491 --> 00:07:11.911
I decree and declare that no weapon formed against me shall prosper,

00:07:12.111 --> 00:07:16.511
and the blood of Jesus covers me. Isaiah 54, 17.

00:07:17.657 --> 00:07:22.857
I decree and declare that God's angels are assigned to guard me and my loved

00:07:22.857 --> 00:07:26.017
ones in all our ways. Psalms 91 11.

00:07:26.417 --> 00:07:30.377
So this week, I want you to take a habit. I want you to make it a daily habit

00:07:30.377 --> 00:07:32.697
to pray Psalms 91 over you.

00:07:32.857 --> 00:07:35.137
So you prayer, remember prayer is a shield.

00:07:35.577 --> 00:07:39.837
Praying and by faith is a double shield over yourself and your family.

00:07:40.057 --> 00:07:47.417
Write down decrees, create some decrees over Psalms 91 and speak them over your life every day.

00:07:47.657 --> 00:07:54.137
Shelter by faith. You have to put some action to your words and you don't realize

00:07:54.137 --> 00:07:57.097
it until a miraculous things happen.

00:07:57.257 --> 00:08:01.317
And you don't know that you are sheltered because of your faith.

00:08:01.517 --> 00:08:04.157
Your family is sheltered because of your faith.

00:08:04.617 --> 00:08:09.997
Shield your house, shield your property. You are sheltered because of your faith.

00:08:10.157 --> 00:08:15.497
According to Psalms 91, Isaiah 54, amen.

00:08:16.177 --> 00:08:21.817
And so, Just begin to use your mouth and speak out.

00:08:21.977 --> 00:08:27.877
You can speak out the scriptures, speak them out in faith, create your own decrees.

00:08:28.177 --> 00:08:31.097
Just build yourself up in your most holy faith.

00:08:31.337 --> 00:08:36.697
And so that's what I want you to do this week. And so as we wrap up this episode,

00:08:36.697 --> 00:08:38.017
I want you to remember this.

00:08:38.377 --> 00:08:44.757
Dwelling in God's shelter is about trusting in his constant care and provision.

00:08:44.757 --> 00:08:50.457
No matter what life throws at you, his refuge is always available.

00:08:51.557 --> 00:08:58.077
Stay in the safe place. Dwell in his safe place. Let's pray.

00:08:58.417 --> 00:09:01.597
Heavenly Father, thank you for being our refuge and fortress.

00:09:01.917 --> 00:09:07.017
Teach us to dwell in your presence and to trust in your protection.

00:09:07.317 --> 00:09:14.657
Help us to abide in you daily, declaring your promises over our lives.

00:09:14.757 --> 00:09:16.537
And resting in your peace.

00:09:16.797 --> 00:09:21.057
Cover us with your shadow and guide us with your wisdom.

00:09:21.337 --> 00:09:24.417
In Jesus' name, amen. Amen. Amen.

00:09:25.097 --> 00:09:31.797
Thank you, Lord. Thank you for tuning in to Shelter by Faith on the Diary of Black Women podcast.

00:09:32.177 --> 00:09:38.117
If this episode blessed you, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

00:09:38.117 --> 00:09:45.137
And don't forget to subscribe for more episodes and to stay connected with us.

00:09:45.237 --> 00:09:50.397
Until next time, remember, God is your shelter, he's your refuge, and your fortress.

00:09:50.777 --> 00:09:52.437
Be blessed.