I am not sure when I discovered Psalm 91, but clearly, it has now become my favorite chapter in the Bible and one that I think about many times a day. This chapter in the Bible is so rich and so powerful – it can change your life forever!

There is a story entitled the Acres of Diamonds by Russell Conwell. The story was about a farmer who lived in Africa and through a visitor became tremendously excited about looking for diamonds. Diamonds were already discovered in abundance on the African continent, and this farmer got so excited about the idea of millions of dollars worth of diamonds that he sold his farm to head out to the diamond line. He wandered all over the continent for years, constantly searching for diamonds and wealth – which he never found.
Meanwhile, the new owner of this farm picked up an unusual looking rock about the size of a country egg and put it on his mantle as a sort of curiosity. A visitor stopped by, and in viewing the rock, he became very excited! He told the new owner of the farm that that funny looking rock on his mantle was about the biggest diamond that had ever been found. The new owner of the farm told him that his land was covered with them – and sure enough, it was!
The farm turned out to be the Kimberly Diamond Mine – the richest the world has ever known!

The original farmer was literally standing on Acres of Diamonds until he sold his farm. If only he had known…..

Just as this man had diamonds in the field that he already owned, we’ve had Psalm 91 in our Bibles – forever! Few of us have recognized the extent of the promises held in this Psalm. God’s promises are FAR BETTER than diamonds or gold or anything else that is valuable!

Psalm 119:72 The law You gave is worth more to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

Psalm 119:127 I love Your commands more than gold.
I love them more than pure gold.

Does it seem funny to you that someone would love God’s law and His commands MORE than they loved gold?
Why would we value what God says more than these priceless jewels? God’s Words are life!
When someone is in trouble; they are really upset; something terrible has happened – which one can help them – God or gold?
There are many people who think that if they just had enough money, all of their problems would go away.
But did you know that money can’t make a sick person better; money can’t make a miserable family into a happy one; money can’t get you good grades in school; money cannot protect you; money cannot bring you peace and joy.

There are several word pictures that I want to share with you to help you understand the difference between trying to do life on your own – trying to do things your own way and living under God’s incredible love and care for you.

Life On My Own vs. Life Under God’s Love and Care
Peanut Butter Crackers – I love these. I keep them in my car, in my purse. My daughter carries them in her book bag. And whenever someone in my house goes on a trip, I send them off with peanut butter crackers.

Peanut butter crackers remind me of a story I heard about where this hard-working woman had finally saved enough money to go on a cruise. She couldn’t wait to enjoy a week of relaxation and luxury. The entire time she was on the cruise, the only thing she ate was peanut butter crackers – breakfast, lunch, and dinner – peanut butter crackers.
At the end of the week-long cruise, a fellow vacationer approached this lady. He said, “Ma’am, I’ve noticed that all week long you’ve been eating peanut butter crackers. I am just so curious why you would eat those instead of all the delicious food on this ship?”
The woman replied, “I worked hard to save enough money to go on this cruise, but I didn’t have enough money to buy all the delicious food.” It was then that this dear woman learned a very important truth:
ALL of the delicious food on the ship was FREELY AVAILABLE with her cruise.

You know, there are people who live their life the “peanut butter cracker” way. Just enough to get by. Just enough happiness; just enough goodness; just enough getting along with others; just enough to get by in school, at home, wherever.

Do you know that God has so much more to offer you than just getting by?

Psalm 91 is loaded with the “delicious food” of God’s truth. Truth that will fill you up and consume you with God’s love and care. During this Bible study time through Psalm 91, I invite you to “taste and see that the Lord is good”. Psalm 34:8There are two BIG things that we’re going to look at – what goes on in the world all around us, and who God is – what He is like.
This world can be a scary place – even for kids! That’s why we need the TRUTH of God’s Word! We need to really know who God is and what He is like.

Life on my own is when we try to control things in order to protect ourselves. Anytime that we look to ourselves or to others for protection is life on our own.

Life under God’s love and care
is full and abundant and peace-filled. TRUSTING GOD is everything.
Our bodies can get sick. Our money can be spent. Our families can fall apart. Our relationships can change. Tragic events can happen suddenly! Our world can be turned upside-down in an instant! That’s why we need to know that our complete, true security is found in the One who NEVER changes. The One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8)

As we study Psalm 91 together, keep in mind that many Bible scholars believe that Moses actually penned this Psalm. We will talk a lot about Moses and how God protected him and provided for him throughout his entire life.