April 8, 2026
I speak to your heart this morning. Some of you came in carrying doubts you did not even know you were still holding. Some of you tried to be strong. Some of you tried to act like everything is fine. But you have “that” thought. The one that whispers, What if God does not come through this time? What if the promises are delayed again? What if the trap is already set?
I am here to tell you: throw it down. Whatever doubt you still have sitting inside you, grab it and lay it at the cross. Don’t just feel something emotional. Make a declaration. Make a covenant move.
Fix Your Eyes on Jesus, Not the Circumstances
Faith is not denial. Faith is direction. There is a difference. Direction is when your gaze is locked on Jesus, the author and finisher of your race, the one who gives faith as an immeasurable gift.
And this is what God keeps teaching us. Even when life looks chaotic, God is not scrambling. God is lining things up. He is ordering sequences, orchestrating timing, and writing outcomes you would never have engineered on your own.
So here is the pattern: when the enemy tries to pull you into fear, don’t argue with fear. Don’t negotiate. Fix your eyes on Jesus.
“Abide Under the Shadow of El Shaddai” (Psalm 91)
Let’s get practical and biblical. Psalm 91 is not just comfort. It is instruction. One of the most powerful lines in it, in the Passion Translation, goes like this: when you abide under the shadow of El Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of the Most High.
Abiding is not a vibe. It is a decision and a lifestyle. It is where you stay. It is where you shelter.
If you can utter the truth that “He is my hope,” if you can mean it, then something has to change. Because the next time fear tries to talk, you will recognize it for what it is: a liar seeking a grip.
And I want to say this boldly: if you really believe Psalm 91, you should not keep giving fear a seat at your table. You should not hear the word “afraid” come out of your mouth ever again. Ever. That is not condemnation. That is agreement. Fear survives only by agreement.
Call Covenant Promises “Enforceable” Because of the Cross
Now let’s move from belief to expectation.
God says He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy. That is not a suggestion. It is a commitment. And the moment God says it, you can call Him on it. Not because you are bossing God around, but because you are taking hold of what He already purchased.
Here is the heart of it: the cross was not only emotional. It was legal. It was a covenant transaction. So when God declares a promise, you stand on it, not because you feel strong, but because the price has been paid.
So when you pray, you are not begging from weakness. You are approaching “boldly, courageously, and expectantly” because you are coming to the One who confirmed your covenant with His blood.
Throw Doubt at the Cross: What That Looks Like in Real Life
I am going to make this very simple. When you discover you are being trapped, do not panic. Do not go silent. Go covenant.
Say something like:
- “God, in the name of Jesus, I call on my covenant.”
- “Help me uncover this trap.”
- “I shelter under the shadow of the Most High.”
- “I find rest. I find peace. I find security.”
- “I will not let the enemy deny what You paid for.”
That is not religious chatter. That is covenant enforcement. You are relying on what Jesus did, not on your own ability to hold it together.
Why Fear Loses: God Says You Are Hidden
Some people think the Christian life means you never face spiritual pressure. That is not what Scripture shows. The truth is, pressure may happen. Threats may be loud. The enemy may attempt to stir fear because fear is his favorite doorway.
But Psalm 91 is bigger than threats. It is about protection.
When you abide under the shadow of El Shaddai, you are hidden in strength. You do not have to be fascinated by the attack. You do not have to obsess over the “what if.” You take your place under the covering of the Most High.
And listen, I have seen this in a personal way. There was a night where spiritual oppression felt extremely real. The sensation was not subtle. But strangely, fear was not the driver. I kept speaking. I kept calling on Jesus. And the atmosphere shifted.
So yes, spiritual conflict is real. But here is the breakthrough: when you can remember one name, you can stand. When you can say “In the name of Jesus,” nothing can ultimately “touch” what belongs to God’s covenant protection.
Even when the enemy threatens, he cannot succeed against you.
Psalm 91 as a Demand, Not a Wish
Let me explain how to think about this.
Some people treat Bible promises like wishes: I hope this works out. I hope it goes my way. But the way covenant works is different. God’s promises are not random; they are purchased, spoken, and designed for you to claim.
God hates unjust scales. The picture is simple: if you give $10 worth, you do not get $9 worth back. You are not ripped off. That is not God’s character.
So do not let the enemy steal credit from the cross. Do not let him deny what Jesus paid for.
That is why you can take the promise in Psalm 91, connect it to the cross, and declare it as present-day truth. You can stand on it “right here, right now,” as you call for God’s rescue and protection.
Don’t Put Your Faith in Fearful Religiosity
There is also a spiritual dynamic that tries to keep people dependent. You know the type: “Wait for a prayer team.” “Sit in a pew and hope.” “Let others fight for you.”
But Jesus did not die to produce a crowd of spectators. He died to form a family of participants. He did not buy you so you would limp in fear and wait forever for someone else to do what you are called to do.
There is an authority in the covenant that many people never step into because they do not understand the power of what was purchased for them.
So walk into your assignment. Release the gospel. Expect signs, wonders, and miracles. Be the church.
Spiritual Warfare and World Events: Stay on the Perspective of God
I also need to address perspective. When current events stir anxiety, do not let the news become your oracle. Don’t let fear drive your theology.
There are seasons where there is hard work in the natural and heavy work in the spiritual realm. Sometimes there are ceasefires announced while deeper decisions are still unfolding. Sometimes restraint is used for strategic reasons. Sometimes what looks like a setback is actually a step in a longer plan.
Here is the key: God is still moving. And the victory is not always immediate in the way we would script it. But if God is setting things up in the heavenlies, what looks delayed is not necessarily defeated.
So we keep declaring that the perfect will of God is advancing. We decree that no demonic interference will disrupt what God is establishing in the spirit realm and the natural realm.
And we keep our hope anchored in what God says: fear has no grip, and the enemy’s threats are not the final word.
Call for the East Wind: Let God Shaken What Must Be Shaken
Scripture shows us patterns. In Exodus, God used wind and locusts as judgment and exposure. In Joel, the “great and terrible day” points to divine disruption that strips away what can’t stand.
So there is a spiritual posture we adopt: we ask God to destroy what is not of Him so that what remains is His unshakable kingdom.
You may not understand every detail, but you can trust the direction. God is exposing, shaking, and removing what must be removed.
Don’t Neglect Your Domestic Duties: Faith Gives, and Faith Receives
One more important piece, because it connects directly to daily living: don’t neglect your own responsibilities while you intercede for others.
God’s word contains a principle about giving: as you give, it is measured back to you. In the same way that prayer is powerful, practical faith and generosity have a place in the plan.
This is not only about money. It is about alignment. It is about staying connected to God’s purposes so your faith remains sturdy when pressure increases.
And God has a way of proving Himself faithful during “impossible seasons.” When there was no money, no safety net, and daily pressure felt overwhelming, God still provided. Not by luck. By covenant and faith.
So do not let your current evidence decide your future. Let the Word decide your faith.
Keep Calling, Even When Answers Take Time
Some prayers are answered quickly. Some take longer. Sometimes people ask why they are still waiting. But delayed does not mean denial.
Keep calling. Keep expecting. Keep standing on God’s promises. Because God’s faithfulness does not expire just because your timeline feels slow.
Short Prayer to Abide Under El Shaddai
If you want a simple prayer to start right now, try this:
- “Father, I abide under the shadow of El Shaddai.”
- “Hide me in the strength of the Most High.”
- “Rescue me from every hidden trap.”
- “Protect me from false accusations.”
- “No weapon formed against me will prosper.”
- “In the name of Jesus, I throw down my doubts at the cross.”
Stay in the Family: Covenant Changes Everything
There is a reason God keeps bringing us back to covenant. Covenant means belonging. Covenant means protection. Covenant means expectation.
Jesus brought us into the family. He cut the covenant with His own blood. Now we live like people who understand we are covered, we are delivered, and we are honored by the Father.
Thank Him for rescue. Thank Him for deliverance. Thank Him that the cross did not just give you a ticket to heaven someday, but heaven on earth as you walk in fullness of faith.
Today’s Charge
So here is your charge, right where you are:
- Throw down doubt.
- Abide under El Shaddai.
- Call on covenant promises.
- Expect God to answer.
When you do that, you stop living as a victim of threats and start living as someone anchored in God’s strength.
Blessings, Howard Olsen
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