When God Speaks
His Covenant Promises
Written by Annie Curtis
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation. Psalm 91:14–16 (KJV)
This passage of Scripture is God's own voice. Throughout most of the chapter of Psalm 91, the psalmist speaks of God's protection, then progress to His dominion and authority. In these final verses, God Himself speaks directly to His people, affirming the promises He has made to those who love and trust Him.
A Covenant and A Condition
Because he hath set his love upon me… Psalm 91:14 (KJV)
This verse reveals the blessings of a covenant relationship between God and man. To set our love upon Him means to cling to Him in devoted affection, to choose Him above all else, and to remain faithful to Him for the rest of our lives.
A covenant is a sacred, binding promise that establishes a deep, lasting relationship between two individuals. God is the covenant maker, but the covenant requires a response. Every promise He speaks is backed by His name, nature, and faithfulness. As for our part, love is the only condition.
The Promise of His Presence
Psalm 91:15 assures us that when we call upon Him, He will answer us. He will be with us in trouble, deliver us, and honor us. God does not guarantee that we will never face trouble. Instead, He promises His presence in the midst of our trials and His deliverance according to His perfect timing and will.
God's greatest gift is His presence. He faithfully assures us that He will bring us safely through every trial until we experience the fullness of His salvation.
A Testament of Deliverance and Honor
There are certain passages of Scripture that we love to read, and then there are those we actually live. For me, these particular verses are more than words on a page; it is my testimony, a demonstration of God's faithful covenant.
When Hurricane Harvey devastated Southeast Texas, countless people, including me, were trapped by rapidly rising floodwaters. On the evening of August 29, 2017, the moment I stepped outside my home with my puppy and my belongings strapped across my back, the force of the rushing water nearly swept me off my feet. It was strong and relentless, unlike anything I had ever experienced. For a brief moment, I considered retreating to a quiet corner and waiting out the storm alone.
But God had another plan.
Although I was alone, I was never alone. Before I could even comprehend what lay ahead, God had already gone before me. Every step I took was met with His presence, His guidance, and His provision. With mixed emotions and a strong, steady will to live, I was too overwhelmed to even call on His name, but I felt that He understood because my heart is knitted with His. We have covenant relationship.
Throughout the entire experience, God revealed His faithfulness through the hands and hearts of ordinary people. The first helping hands quickly reached out, offering safety and a place of refuge. The home where I found shelter became more than a temporary escape from the flood; it became a safe haven.
The following morning, while waiting to be rescued by the Cajun Navy, I wanted to be a blessing rather than a burden. I gathered all of the food from my refrigerator to prepare a meal. My daughter insisted that I share the top layer of her wedding cake that had been stored in my freezer a month before. It was perfectly thawed, vanilla almond with raspberry filling.
As I began to prepare the meal, I created my own personal space of worship. While I listened to Make Me New, featuring Mali Music, an unmistakable peace filled the place. A troubled teen settled down, a woman battling terminal cancer rested and two beautiful, brown children who were with their mother, faces filled with joy when they saw a cake with icing that glistened like tiny-covered snowflakes.
In that ordinary home, God prepared a table, calmed anxious hearts, and transformed it into a sanctuary of hope.
Soon afterward, the rescue boat arrived.
The volunteers of the Cajun Navy were another expression of God's promise. They safely brought me through the floodwaters to dry land. As I was carried off the boat, there were more ready to serve. Some offered food; others offered comfort.
From one helping hand to another, from one place of refuge to the other, I witnessed God's mercy unfold step by step. Every outstretched hand was a reminder that God was keeping His Word. He answered me. He was with me in time of trouble.
God does not guarantee that we will never face trouble. He promises that we will never face them alone.
As I reflect on Hurricane Harvey, the floodwaters still cross my mind, but I choose not to focus on the loss or the uncertainty. Instead, I choose to remind myself of the faithfulness of God. Every promise He spoke in Psalm 91:14–16 found its fulfillment in the details of my story. I will never forget every helping hand He outstretched toward me through the love of my family, and compassionate strangers, including every open door, every warm meal, every act of kindness, and every answered prayer.
A Steadfast Devotion and Enduring Affection
This covenant of love began with a deliberate choice. Long before the floodwaters rose, my heart belonged to Him. The storm did not create our covenant relationship; it was one of the moments God honored what had already been built between us and put it on display.
The Invitation
Psalm 91 concludes with one of the most beautiful promises in all of Scripture: "With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation." Long life here is not only a promise of years; it is a promise of a life fully satisfied in God, a life that has seen His hand, known His faithfulness, and experienced His presence so completely that nothing is lacking. Most importantly, the greatest promise of all is salvation itself. As referenced by Jan Crouch, on TBN many years ago, salvation is the single most important reality that one will ever experience on the face of the earth.
All of these promises begin with one invitation. God extends His invitation today.
