In today’s society, living in someone else’s shadow is often seen as undesirable. It implies receiving less attention, feeling unimportant, or even becoming invisible. No one wants to be overshadowed by another.
However, being under God’s shadow is the best place to be. Why? Because in His shadow, we find protection, safety, and security.
Psalm 91:1 declares, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
But what does it mean to “dwell”? Where is the “secret place” of the Most High? And what does it mean to “abide under the shadow” of the Almighty?
Defining Key Terms
To dwell means to reside, lodge, or stay in a place securely and quietly.
The secret place of God is where His presence dwells. It is the Holy of Holies—the most sacred place, a refuge from the storms of life.
To abide under the shadow of the Almighty means to remain constantly in His divine assistance and protection.
With these definitions in mind, we can rephrase Psalm 91:1 as: “He who stays securely in the sacred presence of God will continually experience His divine protection, refreshed and comforted by Him for all eternity.”
The Promises of Psalm 91:1
🅰 The Promise of His Presence
Dwelling in God’s secret place assures us of His presence in our lives. But how do we do that? King David provides a remarkable example.
David’s name in Hebrew means “beloved.” As the youngest of eight sons, he was chosen by God and anointed by the prophet Samuel to be king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:10-11).
What set David apart was his deep and constant desire to know God’s heart and experience His presence. He longed to dwell in God’s house forever, to behold His beauty, and to seek Him in His temple (Psalm 27:4).
Despite his close relationship with God, David was not exempt from trials. He spent years fleeing from King Saul, yet through every hardship, he experienced God’s love, intervention, and peace.
Over time, he also saw God’s justice prevail. Even with his failures, David remained devoted, yielding his heart completely to God’s guidance. He knew God not just as Lord, Provider, and Shepherd but also as a Friend.
Experiencing God’s Presence
As believers, we long to be in God’s inner sanctuary, yet we don’t always dwell there. We may visit in times of need but fail to remain. We seek experiences rather than a lasting relationship.
When was the last time you encountered God’s presence so profoundly that you didn’t want it to end? Was it only when you first believed?
Let’s follow David’s example—cultivating a deep relationship with God through worship and prayer. Let’s make it a habit to dwell continually in His presence.
🅱 The Promise of Protection Under God’s Shadow
The story of Daniel and his friends in Babylon highlights God’s protective power. Taken from Judah and trained for service in the Babylonian kingdom, they faced life-threatening trials but were preserved by God.
1️⃣ Daniel and the King’s Dream
In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar demanded that his wise men tell and interpret his dream, threatening execution if they failed. When the decree was issued, Daniel sought God’s wisdom before acting. He and his friends prayed for divine revelation, and God answered, revealing the dream to Daniel in a vision (Daniel 2:17-19).
Always Seek God First
Daniel teaches us the importance of seeking God first. Too often, we act impulsively, making plans without consulting Him. But true protection and guidance come from aligning ourselves with God’s will rather than expecting Him to follow ours.
2️⃣ The Fiery Furnace
In Daniel 3, Nebuchadnezzar erected a golden statue and commanded everyone to worship it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused, standing firm in their faith despite the threat of a fiery death.
Thrown into a furnace heated seven times hotter than usual, they were miraculously preserved—untouched by flames, without even the smell of fire on them (Daniel 3:19-27). Their unwavering faith in God’s power, whether He chose to save them or not, is an example of true devotion (Daniel 3:16-18).
Stand Firm in Your Faith
How strong is your faith? Would you stand firm for God even if it cost you your life? Many Christians today face persecution, yet they refuse to deny their faith. They understand that their God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—is the one true God.
3️⃣ Daniel in the Lions’ Den
By the time Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den (Daniel 6), he was around 80 years old. He had risen through Babylon’s political ranks due to his integrity, which made his rivals envious. Unable to find fault in him, they manipulated King Darius into signing a decree that prohibited prayer to anyone but the king.
Despite knowing the decree, Daniel continued his lifelong habit—praying three times a day with his windows open toward Jerusalem. As a result, he was thrown into the lions’ den, but God shut the lions’ mouths, and Daniel emerged unharmed (Daniel 6:22-23).
Maintain a Healthy Prayer Life
Daniel’s life illustrates the power of a consistent prayer life. No matter the risk, he remained faithful in seeking God. As believers, we must cultivate an unwavering prayer habit, staying connected to God regardless of circumstances.
This also highlights that Christians can and should be involved in politics, as long as they do so with integrity, following Daniel’s example.
The Core Message of Psalm 91
Psalm 91 is a promise of divine protection, but it requires us to dwell in God’s presence continually. The blessings of security, safety, and peace are available only to those who maintain close fellowship with Him.
To remain in someone’s shadow, you must stay close to them. Likewise, if we desire God’s protection, we must abide under His shadow.
Let’s learn to dwell in His presence as David and Daniel did. Then we, too, can confidently declare: “The Lord is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.” (Psalm 91:2).
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Recommended Resource:
Psalm 91 for Mothers: God’s Shield of Protection for Your Children by Peggy Joyce Ruth
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Did you know there is a place in God–a secret place–for those who want to seek refuge? It is a haven of physical safety and security that God tells us about in the Ninety-First Psalm, the one place in the Bible where all of the protection promises of God are brought together.
In Psalm 91 for Mothers, Peggy Joyce Ruth guides you through a personal study of this psalm, explaining verse by verse God’s promises of protection, provision, and blessing for your children. Drawing from her personal experience as a mother and grandmother, she covers topics such as:
- Accessing God’s shelter in times of danger
- Protection from evils over which we have no control
- The intervention of God’s angels on your child’s behalf
- Teaching your child to call on God for protection
Affiliate Disclaimer
This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly believe in and think will be beneficial to my readers. Thank you for supporting Biblical Christianity!
You are very right.
Living in the very presence of The Father through the Spirit that God poured on us in the name of Jesus is the best experience one could ever have.
I tried imagining what the life of David could have been like and I was convinced that he had a string determination to love God and obey Him. The troubles and temptations were just too many for a fainthearted person to endure.
Hi Dave,
I say it’s a great blessing and privilege to be able dwell under the shadow of the Almighty where His very presence resides. And yes, it’s the best place one could ever be and the best experience one could ever have.
David’s love and devotion to God were key factors in his obedience to Him. Although he himself had gone through so many trials and temptations, he came out victorious because God was always with Him.
We too are assured of God’s protection and deliverance for as long as we remain under His shadow.
God bless!
How do we manage to stay in this place other than constant prayer? Are there any other ways we can use to develop these habits and keep our minds always on Him?
Prayer is wonderful, but it is also hard at times, and at least to me, it never quite feels like enough. Are there any other ways to maintain this devotion even when threatened with something as horrible as being fed to the lions?
You’re right Brendan. Often times we find ourselves struggling to communicate with God especially when it feels like God is silent and we find ourselves in impossible situations. I found myself in this situation many times too. But one thing we learn from King David is having a heart of worship that longs to honor and adore God. He definitely has set the best example of praising God not only through prayer but through singing, dancing, clapping and jumping before the Lord, even though his own wife despised him. Most of the psalms were written by King David in expression of his love, devotion and thanksgiving to God.
Whenever you feel like prayer is not enough, you can connect with God by praising Him with songs. Express your thanksgiving to Him in hymns and songs of praise and worship. Remember all His goodness and express it in songs of thanksgiving and adoration. Or you can just listen and sing along to songs of praise and worship over the internet. This always works for me and I hope it works for you too.
God bless you!
Hi!
The way to stay under the shadow of the almighty is to remain on the spiritual level that you go to in deep worship.
Walking in the Spirit means to continue in that spiritual realm during your life eternal.
God bless you
Thanks, Karen.
Blessings indeed!
Thank you for a very inspiring article!
It reminds me that I may not have the heart of God just like David had, or I may not be a man of prayer just like Daniel was, but God’s love and protection for me is unquestionable!
Just like the birds clench on the branches of trees during a storm, swaying in all direction as the hard wind blows, we too have to remain in God’s shadow and protection. He is always there for us in times of distress (Psalm 57:1).
Thank you Lord for your loving kindness!
Amen to that brother Jess.
Perhaps there could only be one David or one Daniel, both of whom were able to touch the heart of God because of their sincere faith and whole-hearted devotion, but the promise of God’s presence and protection are for all believers who choose to dwell in His presence. Under the shadow of God is where we find refuge, peace and security. May we learn to remain and be still in the Lord.
Psalm 91 is our universal prayer in EL Shaddai DWXI PPFI, a Catholic charismatic movement.
I really like it because In that chapter and the following verses all important promises of God is in there.
God is our protector and anyone who calls His name, God is always there to answer them.
This Prayer is very powerful and His word helps me to be strong in all the trials that came into my life.
I feel God’s grace many times in my life and until now He shows me His unfailing love though I am not worth it.
Thank you for sharing the goodness of our God.
God bless you
Hi Maria, thanks for dropping by.
The promises of God in Psalm 91 are real and they should motivate us to remain in the presence of God, right under His shadow where we are secure, save and protected. Whenever we are facing trials and difficulties, the promises of God give us assurance that He is always there to get us through every possible hurdle.
Nobody deserves the love and mercy of God but He gave it anyway because of His great love. May we be encouraged to continue in our walk with God.
Blessings!
Thank you for this article – a good reminder for everyone about not just the promise of God, but also His love and mercy towards us. Also, I like what you said:
” We only want the experience and after that we quickly turn around and forget about it.” — sadly, people seek His presence when faced hardship in life and when the smile on their faces are back, so easy for some to forget the greatness and kindness of our God. The sad part is, they turn around without even saying “thank you, God”.
Shalom!
It’s good to be always reminded of the promises of God that await those who dwell in His presence. God’s presence is the best place to be, right under His shadow where we are safe and secure, but sadly many of us only run to His presence when we are in trouble. We tend to look at God as a “quick fix” to our problems instead of sharing not only our sorrows but also our joy.
It’s so very true, we seek God only when we’re faced with hardships. But after we experience His presence and His peace we quickly forget and don’t even bother to thank Him. I hope we are more like David and Daniel who maintained a close heart-to-heart relationship with God and trusted Him in good times and in bad times.
God bless!