I had a bad dream last night. I won’t go into the details, but it essentially involved chaos all around me—in the world around me.

I woke up before dawn because I needed to pray; Jesus prompted me to check a text from a friend overseas. She had written because she, too, had had a nightmare about chaos in the world that very same night.

If you’ve been following the Wild at Heart podcast, you’ve noticed our concern to prepare the friends of God to handle crisis—however it comes—differently from everyone around them. We want to be the salt and light Jesus described his followers being, bringing peace and love to those around us in hard times. Because we are operating with a totally different worldview and toolbox.

Last night’s events prompted me to give you a few tools I think you will find very helpful. Let’s start with Psalm 91. First comes the promise,

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand]. (Psalm 91:1 AMP)

Then, a recitation of the many ways El Shaddai will protect us—rescue from every trap; protection from deadly disease, the terrors of night, the arrow that flies by day. Oh, to experience it! How humanity needs this in a difficult hour. Nine verses in, there comes a critical turning point:

If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
no evil will conquer you…(vs 9-10 NIV)

That “if” is very important.

The refuge of God and his Kingdom is only for those who choose to take part in it. This is the same lesson Jesus gave in John 15 when he urged us to “remain” in him.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:5-7 NIV)

There is that irritating “if” again. If we remain in him, the refuge and resources of God are ours.

The practical application is to bring all of your household and all of your kingdom “under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and into his Kingdom” every day and night. We have authority over our “realms,” so bring your realm into the shelter of the Most High with this sort of prayer: “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I (or we) bring all of our household, kingdom, and domain under the jurisdiction of the Lord Jesus Christ and into his Kingdom.” Be specific if certain parts of your realm feel under attack (finances, health, children, etc.).

Now for the second tool: shutting down chaos.

If we look back at Genesis 1, the birth of creation, we see our mighty God commanding order into the chaos:

In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void or a waste and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep [primeval ocean that covered the unformed earth]. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2 AMP)

What did God then do? He spoke, he commanded, and order came to creation.

Jesus does the same exact thing in the story of the disciples, the boat, and the storm.

Suddenly a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being covered by the waves; but Jesus was sleeping. And the disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us, we are going to die!” He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was [at once] a great and wonderful calm [a perfect peacefulness]. (Matthew 8:24-26 AMP)

We will need to follow our Father’s and our Master’s example.

Because you are now situated with Jesus Christ in authority at the Father’s right hand (Ephesians 2:6), you can do this very thing: you can command the “creation Glory of the Living God, his mighty Breath and Glory against all chaos” throughout your kingdom and domain. Especially if you have first brought everything under the rule of Jesus Christ and into his Kingdom. This is the basics of James 4:7. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (KJV). First, we submit—in this case, bringing our household and kingdom under the authority of Jesus and into the shelter of the Most High. Then we command “the Creation Breath and Glory of Almighty God and the Lord Jesus Christ against all chaos trying to get into our household or kingdom.”

For some of you, this makes massive sense of your current situation; practice it!

For others, it might not make sense yet; just tuck this away for when you do need it.

For He will command His angels in regard to you,
To protect and defend and guard you in all your ways. (Psalm 91:11 AMP)

I recommend you read through Psalm 91 every week and pray it over your household! It’s there for a reason.

Download the Wild at Heart September 2024 newsletter here.