You will be taken through Psalm 91 verse-by-verse, unfolding the promises of protection from God. While there are other promises of protection found throughout the Bible, Psalm 91 is the only place in the Word where all of them are brought together in one collection.
Along with the author’s in-depth teaching, this book is full of heart-wrenching testimonies from servicemen who have seen firsthand God’s protective hand. Testimonies include those who survived a Nazi prison camp and have endured the turbulent times while fighting recently in Iraq, as well as a story from legendary author Corrie Ten Boom.
Come and understand God’s protection and become inspired and encouraged from those who have seen His protection firsthand. We will remember that the Lord has not made us to fear but to have power, love, and a sound mind.
About the Author Peggy Joyce Ruth and her husband, Jack, are former pastors at Living Word Church in Brownwood, Texas. She has taught the Wednesday night adult Bible study each week at the church for the past thirty years and continues to teach a weekly Better Living radio Bible study on KPSM. She also holds various seminars and conferences at different churches and organizations throughout the South.
For more information on Peggy Joyce Ruth visit her Web site:
I am probably in the minority here, but I have mixed feelings about this book. An acquaintance gave it to me as a gift, knowing it could apply to someone I care about. I appreciate her thoughtfulness.
The book explains the idea of using Psalm 91 as a guide for prayer, especially for those in the military. About half the book is the author's thoughts about the Psalm and it's application to direct prayer for protection and safety. The other half are true life stories of safety and survival, tied to people praying the Psalm.
The appendix also contains a thoughtful piece for those who have lost their lives in service.
I'm certainly not against using Scripture as a guide for prayer, and I do believe God's Word is powerful. My concern about this book is that (in my own view) it comes across almost like a "magical" approach to ensuring safety of loved ones in dangerous jobs, particularly the military. Also, it can have a tendency to feel like safety is up to us--those praying--even containing stories that soldiers began to experience suffering when a church slowed down its praying for them. To me, that starts to make the power feel like it belongs to a person rather than God, and it could be our fault if we don't pray enough. That is dangerously close to a dependence on our own good works.
As one reviewer mentioned elsewhere, this book gives a sense of Psalm 91 being a tailsman--something with magical properties. While I believe God's word has power (as mentioned above) I also think we need to be careful about lifting one portion and reciting it as a sort of covering almost guaranteeing safety. Psalm 91 was special to me during 9/11 actually, so I understand it's application to fearful situations. But ultimately, God's will should be sought with an understanding that sometimes, He does allow loved ones to be hurt or killed. While I was kept safe, many families had terrible losses. Did Psalm 91 not apply to them? I felt this book would be hard for those remaining behind to read, despite the short appendix item, which I'm not sure fully addressed the question that arises about why some die and some do not.
If you can read this book with a discernment to appreciate God's power and love and the value of His word, and cooperate with Him by surrendering to what may be His will instead of turning one Psalm into a magical near-guarantee of safety as long as we make sure we pray it enough, then it can be a helpful book.
In Psalm 91, Peggy Joyce Ruth takes the reader through the 91st Psalm and shares not only how it has changed her life but also relays stories of those who experienced God's divine protection in the midst of dangerous situations.
While reading this, there were a few instances where I went "Hmm...Now, that doesn't sound quite right..." One thing that stood out to me was a part at the beginning of the book where the author writes about praying before disasters/tragedies happen, praying in anticipation so that they will be prevented. In her own words: "Defensively pray, for example, that God protects you from ever hitting a child on a bicycle, being involved in a wreck that kills another person, and causing someone to walk away from the faith" (page 23). Certainly, Scripture urges us to be anxious for nothing and to pray about everything, but this specific line of thinking induces fear. In fact, I think it is worse than that. It seems to imply that God, in whatever way, is not sovereign, so we must constantly be on our guard to prevent disasters.
What a terrible way to live! I hope that newer believers/unlearned believers do not read this book and take that seriously and begin worrying about every little thing, praying in advance to prevent imminent disaster. Just imagine being terrified because you forgot to pray before getting in your car!
In addition, at the start of chapter 9 (page 45), the author makes it very clear that she believes God does not cause hail, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods; basically, she believes that God does not cause any kind of natural disaster. I'm not sure what version of the Bible she is reading...Does the story of Noah ring a bell? Many verses in Job (specifically Job 38:22-30), Jonah 1:4, Matthew 5:45, Psalm 135, Psalm 147, Jeremiah 10:13 all point to the fact that God can and does control natural disasters and the weather. The point: you can't just take one verse out of a single Psalm and then ignore all of the other Psalms and misapply Mark 4:39, where Jesus rebukes the storm, simply because it fits one's personal view of God. Mark 4:39 just shows that Christ can command the wind and the waves. It shows that He has power over both. Now, does God send every storm and cause every natural disaster? I don't have an answer to that (I'm not sure that I would say that He does), but I will say that Scripture is very clear that He truly does have power over natural disasters, and there were times when He did cause storms and disasters to occur.
Certain parts of this book were fear-inducing, not faith inducing, meaning if we don't 'do' something (i.e. pray in advance) something bad will happen as a result. Do I believe that the Lord is our protector, our strength, our hiding place, and our refuge? Of course. What I object to is someone bringing a doctrine that causes people to fear because they haven't prayed enough or to even feel guilty because they did not pray and then something unexpected and bad happened so it's somehow their fault. That's not how we are supposed to live. That is the opposite of faith. That is fear.
If someone had a different view or even noticed what I saw in this book, I am interested in hearing about that.
Reading this book throughout the COVID-19 epidemic here in Israel was a comfort. I had found this book by the dumpster a few years ago, but it wasn't until I began reading Psalm 91 with my prayer group that I was reminded of its spot on my bookshelf. Each chapter brought new insight into this incredible passage of scripture and inspired me to think of Psalm 91 as something more than one of David's writings. Even amid the storm, we are to praise and have faith in God's promises!
It was also amazing to read people's testimonies after the in-depth study in the first half of the book. Peggy Joyce Ruth did a fantastic job of collecting a variety of different miracles and including them at the end of this book. My only disagreement was with the few stories that made it sound as if the Christians were only praying for their loved ones and not showing compassion towards those who weren't as fortunate. At the end of the second testimony, which was about the boy who had an accident skiing, it irked me when the mother highlighted, "It was a miracle that my tiny son came out fine while this huge man ended up with many problems and a long stay in the hospital." When I read these words, I'm not going to lie, I almost set the book down and stopped reading. While I can see how the comparison showed the miracle of this woman's son, I do not agree with using someone else's pain to show the scale of God's healing and protection.
Every day, the Lord is protecting us, and it's so incredible to see the promise of this Psalm playing out in our lives. I pray that this book blesses a lot of people and inspires thousands to read each verse over their family, friends, loved ones, and strangers they encounter daily!
Ruth presents the case for using Psalms 91 as an oral talisman or amulet. I do not think that God's word is to be used in this fashion. I found much of the book to be offensive. The woman supposely is a Bible teacher, but she substitues storytelling for Bible study. When there was a quote by the heretic, Kenneth Copeland, I had had enough. There was nothing for me to learn from reading this book. Many people will be drawn in by this woman's hersy and think they are learning about God rather than see that this is a mystic hersy about God.
A quite lovely book written about the 91st Psalm and the power of protection that is found there for all those who seek to be nearer to Him. There are 21 chapters and with 15 testimonials of the power of this Psalm. Inspiring and biblically sound, I have shared many copies already with friends and family.
Do you find yourself worrying over ever little thing? Do you trust God? I mean really trust Him? As Christians, we know that there is power in God's Word, and there is power in prayer, but how often we fall into just a routine of prayer or reading the Bible without actually taking in what we're reading. You know, "Lord, bless so and so." Or you read a passage of Scripture in the morning just to mark it off your to do list, and later on you can't remember what you read at all. I've been guilty of this, but what if we actually took in what we read, really prayed with power, really applied the Bible to our lives? How different we would be! My mom has told me about how amazing Psalm 91 is, and how she prays it over our family, how she prays it and claims it when she's nervous or afraid of something. She let me borrow this book on Psalm 91 by Peggy Joyce Ruth, and it changed me. The Bible says in Isaiah 55:11, "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." After reading this book, and seeing testimony after testimony of those who have prayed this Psalm and applied it's many promises of protection to their own lives and the lives of their family and friends, I was moved. I asked myself, do I have that kind of faith? Why do I worry so much about things I have no control over? God has promised to protect me and my family, I just need to trust Him! I have begun to pray this Psalm every time I start to worry or fret, I have begun claiming its promises of protection over me and my family. I highly recommend this book, and this Psalm for each and every Christian! Let me tell you, there was a specific instance where my husband was going to be gone over night, and my mind started making up things that could happen, like what if someone approaches him and hurts him? What if something bad happens? I couldn't sleep because these what-ifs kept coming to my mind. I decided that I would get my Bible out, pray Psalm 91 over my husband and go to sleep. When I finished praying and giving my husband and his safety over to God, I had a peace, and I went right to sleep. As a mother, I worry about my children as well, especially in this crazy world we live in. It's an encouragement, and it gives me peace to claim these promises straight from God. Take the time to read Psalm 91, and get your copy of this book today, such an encouragement and a great resource!
This is one of those books where I kept hearing my seminary professor saying in my mind, "A text without context is just a pretext for what you want it to be (Ben Witherington III). It seems that the author wants us to think that Psalm 91 is a talisman, that if you continue to pray this Psalm that nothing will happen to you. I have to keep thinking and be reminded of the story of Job in the Bible and think that her reasoning has some short comings. Even the testimonies in the book seems to be placed there to fit the thought process the author is trying to make. This is one of those books that I find frustrating as a pastor. I would not recommend this book for reading.
There are two kinds of Christians I don’t understand: the first are the early generations who were eager to martyr themselves as some kind of testament to their faith. The second are modern ones who treat their faith like a get out of jail free card, who if they pray the right way they get what they want, even as urgent as saving their life in a crisis. This book is meant to inspire those in the second group. As far as I’m concerned, that’s not even Christianity. You can find it in the devotions of archaic religions, certainly, but I don’t see the point of faith if that’s how you approach it. It’s not faith at all. And even if someone can compile a whole book of anecdotal proofs they’ve found to confirm their beliefs, it’s exactly this kind of faith that makes outsiders question the sanity of it. Well, that and a few other things. Basically all of it. And other things they conjure to confirm their beliefs. But it certainly doesn’t help. I really doubt an understanding of Christianity that only points to the individual praying. God doesn’t sit around saying, Well, because they prayed to me, I won’t kill them, but those other guys…
This is a book that I will pass on to my future generations, in hopes that my childrens, childrens, children might read it. The first-hand testimonies of this promise in action had me shedding tears as I turned the pages. If you're needing hope in the middle of the pandemic, this book is a delight.
This book explains more about God's promises of protection in Psalm 91. If you have not, behold God's promise of salvation which includes health, healing, deliverance, rescue, safety, protection and provision. Amen.
“When a Pennsylvania lieutenant was accidentally discovered by the enemy while attempting to carry out a very important overseas mission, he immediately placed himself in the hands of God, but all he could get out of his mouth was, ‘Lord, it’s up to You now.’
Before he had a chance to defend himself, the enemy shot point-blank, striking him in the chest and knocking him flat on his back. Thinking he was dead, his buddy grabbed the carbine out of his hands, paired it up with his own, and began blasting away with both guns. When his friend finished, not one enemy was left.
Later, the lieutenant’s sister in Pennsylvania got a letter relating this amazing story. The force of that bullet in the chest had only stunned her brother. Without thinking, he reached for the wound, but instead he felt his Bible in his pocket. Pulling it out, he found an ugly hole in the cover. The Bible he carried had shielded his heart. The bullet had ripped through Genesis, Exodus… and had kept going through book after book, stopping in the middle of the Ninety-first Psalm, pointing like a finger at verse 7: ‘A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you’ (NKJV).
The lieutenant exclaimed, ‘I did not know such a verse was in the Bible, but precious God, I thank You for it.’ He did not realize this protection psalm even existed until the Lord supernaturally revealed it to him.”
I heard about this book from a friend who's daughter is deployed. I was unfamiliar with Psalm 91 being prayed by and for the military as a means of seeking God's protection. There is a long history with many stories from WWII. I like how Ruth breaks it down verse by verse studying the biblical meaning. Psalm 91 is an all-encompassing section getting at the heart's desire for God's protection and intervention. Even though many stories are from the military, this verse is for anyone who desires God's protection.
I read the extended version with personal stories. There is also a military version that still includes military stories, but is convenient pocket-sized.
this book is phenomenal. Peggy Joyce Ruth really breaks down the Psalm verse by verse to educate the reader of the awesome power that is behind Psalm 91. I would recommend it to anybody whether the person is young in their faith or has already matured in their walk with God. This book truly reveals how much God loves us by establishing all of the Promises of protection in one Psalm. Way to go Peggy Ruth. It was a wonderful book to read. Mazel tov.
This is a cross between a devotional book, a Bible study book, and an inspirational book. I picked it up because Psalm 91 has always been a favorite Bible chapter of mine and I have been experiencing some things in my life that have caused anxiety. I was hoping for a fresh look at a favorite Bible passage and some practical ways to apply the Word to my life. That is what I got.
DNF. I was given this book as a gift, but just couldn’t get into it. In the first section, every chapter analyses & discusses a line of Psalm 91. In theory, I like that idea, but in practise I would just prefer to read the psalm myself & make my own conclusions. I don’t feel it needs an entire book written on it. Don’t get me wrong- I love Psalm 91, & I think it’s great to memorise scripture to recall in times of trouble. Also, I wasn’t overly jazzed with the testimonies in the second part. Yes, God is good. He is our protector & saviour, but I was expecting the accounts to be directly related to specific prayer that had been prayed in each situation. The stories were of survival, but no mentions of specific prayer (or even specifically Psalm 91- which is what I thought the book was about). They were grateful, obviously, & praised God. I was just hoping for a stronger connection between the prayer & the testimony. I did skip ahead a lot, though, so perhaps it is in there somewhere.
I don’t normally leave book reviews, but Psalm 91 by Peggy Ruth has impacted me so deeply that I feel compelled to share. This book truly changed my life. It opened my eyes to the incredible protection God offers us, and helped me understand His promises in a way I never had before.
What stood out most was being introduced to the concept of the Secret Place—a deeply personal space of trust and intimacy with Jesus. Learning how to dwell there has transformed my relationship with Him and given me a new sense of peace and confidence in God’s care.
If you’re seeking comfort, clarity, and a stronger connection with God, Psalm 91 is a must-read. I believe everyone could benefit from the truths this book reveals.
This book was pretty good! I saw this at a bookstore and read it at the pool and I finished it fairly quickly. It’s filled with a bunch of stories only from the author but submitted stories of how saw 91 kept people under protection in desperate times and desperate measures.
It quotes 91 numerous times and really shows a person’s beliefs in their religion and how they’re able to stay calm certain situations, how they’re able to be safe in situations. I have to admit there’s one or two stories that I skipped on there because they didn’t interest me, but everything from a person being in the Pentagon on 9/11, two people that were in hurricanes and tornadoes and how they were able to live afterwards.
I first discovered this book over a decade ago and devoured it then. Recently, Peggy Joyce Ruth messages have been popping up on my YouTube feed, so I decided to revisit it. What a gem it is, and she is! I've learned so much from her, and been inspired by her stories (and her late husband Jack's stories) of standing and believing God in faith against impossible odds. She interweaves these personal testimonies throughout the book, as she expounds and meditates (in print) upon what all is encompassed in the Psalm 91 comprehensive promise of protection. I'm inspired to write out my own meditation of the psalm, and pray it regularly over my family and friends, too.
Good book to remind us of the promises of my God.While I do not ascribe to the “name it claim it” theology that requires God to answer my prayers like a genie in a bottle I was encouraged to remember to whom I belong and to vocalize my trust in Him specifically and to memorize Scripture that will help me do that namely here Psalm 91. It helps me pray for those I love and care for who are in harms way. I am glad I read it.
Great book for standing on Gods word and trusting by faith for Gods protection. Highly recommend for parents with sons or daughters in the military, or like me a grandmother with grandchildren in the military. But not just military, it is a beautiful illustration of Gods faithfulness and love for us all.
What a fabulous book! This book has left me empowered and grasping into the truths of Psalm 91 as never before. My understanding and confidence in God's protection has been awakened! Recommend for everyone.
Note: I did break it up and read several chapters at a time along with several testimonies! That really put the Psalm into perspective. Couldn't put the book down.
O livro é dividido em duas partes. A primeira parte é a interpretação verso a verso do salmo 91 e a segunda parte são os relatos de pessoas protegidas pelo salmo. Obra muito bem escrita. Uma leitura leve e inspiradora
A very spirit-filled, moving testimony to what God will do for someone who loves Him and dwells or abides under His care. It consists of 21 devotionals that look at the promises of protection in Psalm 91. Lots of military testimonials to God's care and salvation in the back of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book was sent to me. I wasn't sure I would like it, because I don't like using Scripture to try to manipulate God. But, it was so good. And so reassuring about how God's word is a double edged sword, to use against the evil one.
I love Peggy Joyce Ruth! She is a woman of great faith and has incredible wisdom. I loved the testimonials in the back. They inspire you to press into the Lord! I love watching her teachings on YouTube. She has an incredible personal testimony.
I went through a period in my life when I was very anxious and fearful but this book really helped me overcome fear and learn to trust God for my safety.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.