New songs are always filling the air of my home. If it’s not me picking up a guitar with a new melody, it’s my five year old creating a song. His latest original tune went like this, ‘chocolate house, chocolate house, oh chocolate house’…

About a year ago, I began a song that flooded our home with such wonder of God’s presence. My family began to sing along and I knew it was a song to finish. Let’s be honest, not a lot of songs actually get finished. When we visited El Salvador with Compassion International, I remember meeting a woman who lived with her family in a one room house made of a leaky tin roof and wooden frame. She told us about experiencing great loss when her mom died in an accident and the dangers of the environment her family lived in. I couldn’t help but notice the great big smile of Stephanie’s face. Her joy, hope and peace was so evident. The other thing that caught my attention was Psalm 91 painted in bright colors from top to bottom on their front door. “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty…”

There are times in my own life that I have felt pressed at every side. Pressure from struggles that have grown my faith, my dependence on my Great God. Worship lifts my perspective up so I can see Who is my Deliverer, Who is directing the wind and waves, Who is surrounding me… and I keep coming back to the words of Psalm 91.

It’s not enough to know that God is my Deliverer or even to see the words in the Bible that speak about how He delivers me from all of my troubles. I need to believe it. And to follow that belief with one more vital truth – that this Deliverer, this Great God, loves me!

The greatest trouble we face is not the opposition of the enemy or the size of our battle, it’s believing the truth that we are truly loved by God and there is nothing to fear.

You’re not lacking faith. Galatians 2:20 says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

It’s the faith of Christ that lives in us and the passionate, unwavering love of God that surrounds us. Before God created us, He knew he would have to send His Son to a painful death to save us. And yet, He still created us because it was His good pleasure! (Ephesians 1:4-6) This love is so much more than we can grasp, except through the revelation from God’s Spirit.

Remember Romans 8:35,37-38, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”… “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Choose His love. Chose to dwell in His shelter, under His mighty covering. Like a powerful Father defends His children, He is Almighty standing over you. Sing with confidence knowing His love for you!

Thanks for reading. Listen to our new song here.

-Elissa

Verse:
I will hide in the shelter
of the Most High
I will rest in the shadow
of Almighty God

Chorus:
He will deliver me from every enemy
Angels advance before my path
All He has promised me is written down
Every word will come to pass.

Chorus 2:
The name of Jesus is a Mighty Fortress
I run to Him and find my strength
I will not fear because His perfect love is surrounding me always.

Bridge:
Your love surrounding me
Surrounding me
Surrounding me
Always


“Surrounding Me” by Elissa Tipps – Copyright 2020 Sonflower Worship/ASCAP