psalms for the persecuted
a devotional

Finding Resilience in the Face of Trials:
A Journey Through the Psalms
The First Volume in a Three-Part Devotional Series

$8.99 for a limited time only
*By purchasing you agree to the Terms & Conditions

About The Book

Understanding Persecution Through Personal Experience “Psalms for the Persecuted: A Devotional” begins with a profound exploration of what it means to be persecuted. Author Nick Walters shares his personal journey of facing wrongful accusations and the emotional turmoil that followed. He introduces readers to the concept of persecution not just as a physical or social challenge, but as a spiritual one, deeply rooted in the trials he faced.

A Dive into the Psalms In seeking solace and understanding, Walters turns to the Psalms from the Old Testament. The book details his journey through all 150 Psalms, focusing particularly on those that resonate with themes of persecution and divine protection. This exploration is not just academic; it is deeply personal, reflecting Walters’ search for peace and understanding in the midst of his own trials.

The Devotionals: A 30-Day Journey
The heart of the book lies in the three 30-day devotional series, derived from the 30 Psalms identified by Walters as most relevant to those facing persecution. These devotionals are designed to offer comfort, guidance, and a sense of companionship to readers. They provide a daily refuge and a reminder of the steadfast presence of God in difficult times.

Impact and Legacy
Each of the daily devotions also integrates the impact of these Psalms on Walters’ life. He discusses how the Word of the LORD provided not just comfort, but also a profound understanding of God’s role as a protector and deliverer. Throughout the book you will see the themes of hope and resilience, encouraging readers to find their own strength and solace in the Psalms during challenging times.

What’s inside

^

Personal Journey

Confronting Wrongful Accusation

^

30-Day Devotionals

Daily Guidance and Reflection

^

Practical Reflections

Applying Psalms in Life

^

Psalms Analysis

Scriptural Depth and Context
^

Divine Protection

Themes of Strength and Refuge

^

Hope and Resilience

Finding Solace in Faith

Day Nineteen
Psalm 91:1 – 2

Is there a difference between living somewhere and dwelling somewhere? You can live anywhere, it seems to me, but when you dwell somewhere, it’s a place “where you are at,” and you are sticking to that place.

It doesn’t mean you are chained to the place or a prisoner – you are there of your own free will. A dwelling is a place or a specific spot. I’ve never heard anyone say “welcome to my living place” as compared to “welcome to my dwelling place.”

A dwelling is a particular place. A spot. A location.

The unknown writer Psalm 91 has the specific spot/place of a dwelling in mind when they write in verse 1:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. (ESV)

This place, called the “shelter of the Most High,” is where the psalmist “abides.” It is where she/he dwells. It’s a specific place.

What does this dwelling look like? Where is it? And is the key under the mat?

Verse 2 gives us more of a description of this dwelling place:

I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.” (ESV)

The dwelling place has four characteristics:

1. It is the shelter of the Most High

2. It is in the shadow of the Almighty

3. It is a Refuge

4. It is a Fortress

Even though I wouldn’t say I like a lot of the Disney Company’s policies, we still love going to Disney World. On one trip, we were in EPCOT and a typical summer downpour showed up. Not a rain or a sprinkle but a downpour and everyone was running for cover. We got all snuggly with a bunch of folks from Wisconsin in the women’s bathroom in Norway.

I didn’t really care that I was in the ladies’ room because it was shelter from the storm.

That’s the first characteristic of God, isn’t it? The Most High is the place/person where I run to when the downpour shows up. I am safe and away from all that is pouring down on me. If it were sprinkling I might be tempted to say I can tough this out. “Big deal. This light rain feels good on us and will cool us off”.

But when it comes down in droves, being in the shelter of the Most High God is a wonderful place to run. To dwell.

This second one, the shadow of the Almighty, speaks to me of rest. The Hebrew word here for shadow is the same word to describe what Jonah had under the gourd or plant God provided for him. We see it interpreted as “shade” in Jonah 4:6:

Now the LORD God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. (ESV)

When we dwell with/in the LORD Almighty, we see God taking care of us in a very practical way even though the circumstances around us are not pleasant.

Jonah was in the desert and burning up and would have much rather been a bunch of places (except maybe back inside that big fish), but while he was in that particular place – at that specific time – God provided shelter for him.

And God provided the shade even though Jonah needed a serious attitude adjustment and was sulking.

A refuge sounds nice, doesn’t it? This third place to dwell builds on the dwelling places of shadows and shelters. Think of everything around you being a buffer. I imagine being in a large house – maybe a mansion – and snuggling into a comfortable bed about to go to sleep and not worrying if I left one of 23 doors unlocked. I’m in a refuge. All the doors are locked and I’m safe and I can rest.

It’s why the word refuge is used for wildlife preserves. The animals can roam and run around and do their thing without the threat of poachers.

Shelters and shadows and wildlife preserves are comforting, but what about the direct assault? What about the missiles and heavy artillery coming right at you? Shade trees and ladies’ bathrooms aren’t always enough.

The fourth characteristic is God as our fortress. As we’ve studied before, a fortress is built to handle the attack. It is expecting bad stuff and bad people trying to tear it down.

We can expect bad stuff and bad people coming after us. The closer you are in your walk with God, you can expect it to be even more intense.

But God is our Fortress. He is the One we dwell in.

What does dwelling in God Almighty, the One who is the Most High look like?

Shelter. Shade. A refuge. A fortress.

As the great hymn by Martin Luther says: A mighty fortress is our God.

Psalms

Pages

In ‘Psalms for the Persecuted: A Devotional’, Nick Walters invites readers into a profound journey of reflection and discovery. Each Psalm is presented not just as an ancient text, but as a living, breathing source of comfort and guidance for those facing trials in their lives. This book is more than a collection of devotional writings; it’s a companion for those seeking solace in the midst of turmoil. The Psalms chosen by Walters resonate with timeless themes of perseverance, faith, and divine protection, offering a beacon of hope to all who traverse the challenging path of personal persecution.

About the author.

Headshot of Nick Walters
Nick Walters hails as a 7th generation Mississippian from Wiggins. His academic journey led him to Mississippi College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree with a double major in history and political science, followed by a master’s degree in history. Beyond academia, Nick is an entrepreneur, owning several business and sales consulting firms that he began after several tours of duty in government service. His passion for history extends into his role as an adjunct professor of history at two Christian universities.
Nick currently lives in Ridgeland, MS with his wife Lisa and their three children: Porter, John Garrett, and Betsy. They also share their home with their beloved fur baby, Jack-Jack. A community man, Nick actively teaches a live Sunday School class weekly and maintains a regular blog on various topics at www.nickwalters.org.

Nick Walters

Sign up for a free sample

GET A FREE SAMPLE!

Get a copy of the Introduction (which tells the back story of Nick’s indictment), the devotional from Day One, and a full list of all 30 of the Psalms for the Persecuted

Do you need help?

9 + 1 =