Listening to a Bible study webinar, I heard a story about the actor Jimmy Stewart. Stewart was a bomber pilot in World War II, during which he flew twenty combat missions. As he was going off to war, his father gave him a copy of the ninety-first Psalm. In his accompanying letter, Stewart’s father wrote, “The thing that takes the place of fear and worry is the promise of these words.” Indeed, Jimmy Stewart was protected.
I was intrigued by this account, so I decided to memorize the ninety-first Psalm. I read some verses in first person to make them more meaningful to me. For example: “He shall cover [me] with his feathers, and under his wings [shall I] trust: his truth shall be [my] shield and buckler” (verse 4). Repeating each line gave me new insights into the sacredness of each verse. Now I think of the ninety-first Psalm daily. It is so comforting and powerful!
Verse 12 is the most precious to me: “[His angels] shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” I feel the mothering touch of God’s angels holding me every time I recite it.
