As a global community of intercessors for Israel, we are entering September during a 21-day fast that ends the day before Rosh Hashanah on September 10. We are believing that the power of this fast, combined with prayer, will help shift the Middle East according to the heart of God.

Recently, I had a dream about the importance of Psalms 91 and 37. In short, Psalm 91 is all about protection, and Psalm 37 describes how the righteous will prevail and the wicked will be defeated. In this month’s Call to Prayer, I will focus on Psalm 91.

The Psalm begins with these beautiful words: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust’” (Psalm 91:1-2) Notice the four names of God here: “The Most High” (Elyon, meaning supreme ruler over all), “the Almighty” (Shaddai, meaning all-powerful provider, protector, all-sufficient God), “The Lord” (Yahweh, meaning the personal, covenant-keeping God), and “My God” (Elohim, meaning the intimate, personal God).

The Psalm beckons us to tuck in under the power and promises of our Almighty God. Those promises include Him being our refuge, fortress, shield, and deliverer from snares (traps), destruction, and pestilence. We are covered under His wings; we can tread upon the lion and cobra, not be afraid of terrors, call upon Him, and know that He answers. He will set us on high, be with us in trouble, honor us, give us long life, and show us salvation.

Psalm 91 also reveals our part in this great deliverance. We are to dwell in the secret place of the Most High, trust in Him, not be afraid, make the Lord our refuge, set our love upon Him, and call upon Him. When we come to the Lord– seeking His counsel, spending time of refreshing with Him, and walk closely with Him each day– we enter a sheltered place of protection, including in health.

Often referred to as the “Soldier’s Psalm,” the text of Psalm 91 has been carried on printed pocket cards by many military personnel throughout history and in modern conflicts, prayed before patrols, and credited with bringing physical safety.

In WWI, the Commander of the US Army’s 91st Infantry Brigade printed out cards of Psalm 91 for his troops. Despite entering some of the heaviest combat of the war, where neighboring units faced up to 90% fatalities and catastrophic losses, this unit suffered no deaths.

In WWII, a lieutenant was shot in the chest during combat. The bullet penetrated multiple front books of his pocket-sized Bible before coming to a complete stop directly in the middle of Psalm 91, with the tip of the bullet pointing to precisely verse 7: “A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.” The soldier admitted that he had been unaware of this verse, but he later discovered that his brother at home prayed Psalm 91 over him every day.

Personally, I have been working on committing Psalm 91 to memory and praying it more. Yes, we are in a battle against spiritual and physical enemies, but the weapons of our warfare include tucking in and dwelling in the secret place of the Most High. That is the safest place to be.