Thoughts on Psalm 91

Hi All. I decided to start this blog as a way to share insights I'm learning in my study of God's word. My prayer is that it leads my readers and myself into a deeper relationship with Him. I hope it blesses you! Psalm 91:1 states, "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." I always thought that was one thought expressed two ways.This time when I read it I got a different meaning. We have to choose to dwell in the shelter of the Most High and then we will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I think in the past I've seen both statements as being passive i.e. those who are saved will automatically dwell in the shelter of the Most High and in the shadow of the Almighty. Verse 9 says, "If you say, 'The Lord is my refuge, and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.'" Verses 14-16 state, "Because he loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation." These verses reinforce the idea that it is our responsibility to dwell in the shelter of the Most High.What does that mean? I think it means that we make it our goal to seek first His Kingdom and to live according to His statutes. John 14:23 says, "Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves me he will keep my word; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with him.'" Isn't that awesome, to think of God living with us? God's word says that His commands are not burdensome. On the contrary, His commands are for our protection. How many bad consequences could we avoid by reading His word and doing what it says? Thankfully, we don't have to do it on our own. If we know Jesus as our Savior, then the same power that raised Him from the dead lives in us by His Spirit. Ephesians 1:19-20 It's an amazing fact that through Jesus we can come directly into the presence of God. Hebrews 10:22 says, "let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." We need to discipline ourselves to dwell in His presence. We must seek Him through His word and in prayer. Then we need to obey. We can't expect God's presence if we are going our own way. Does all of this mean we won't face trials if we do these things? Jesus said, "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 We live in a fallen world with all kinds of trouble. However, if we choose to dwell in the shelter of the Most High we will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.