The Psalm 91 Challenge: 100 Times a Day Keeps the Chaos Away
Why reading the same thing 3,100 times might be the sanest thing you do this month
Look, I get it. We live in a world where our phones buzz more than a caffeinated bee, our news feeds serve up daily doses of doom, and somehow, we're supposed to "just breathe" our way through it all. But here's the thing – I came across something that actually works, and no, it's not another meditation app or essential oil blend.
Tiphani Montgomery from Covered by God ministry recently posted a challenge on Instagram that stopped me mid-scroll. She's calling people to dive deep into Psalm 91, and honestly? The woman might be onto something. Before you roll your eyes and think, "Great, another Bible-thumping solution," hear me out.
Why Psalm 91 Hits Different
This isn't your grandmother's gentle scripture reading (though she probably knew what she was doing). Psalm 91 is basically the spiritual equivalent of a security system, but instead of keeping burglars out, it keeps the mental chaos at bay.
You know those 3 AM thoughts that show up uninvited? The ones that turn a minor work email into a full-blown career crisis. Yeah, this psalm has something to say about that. It's been doing its thing for thousands of years, which is longer than most self-help trends last (looking at you, juice cleanses).
The Challenge That Sounds Crazy but Isn't
Here's what Tiphani challenged her followers to do, and honestly, I'm all in: Read Psalm 91 one hundred times a day for 31 days.
Before you think she's lost it (or that I have for considering it), think about this – you probably check your phone way more than 100 times a day, and all that gets you is decision fatigue about whether to like someone's breakfast photo. At least this challenge has a point.
I'm taking on this challenge, and I want my Locked in Christ family to join me. Let's read it when we're happy, sad, mad, anxious, or just Wednesday-level exhausted. Read it when you're stuck in traffic, waiting for your coffee to brew, or pretending to pay attention in that meeting that could've been an email.
The Logistics (Because You're Wondering)
"But how do I actually read something 100 times without losing my mind?" Fair question. Here's the thing – you're not chaining yourself to a desk with a stopwatch. Sprinkle it throughout your day like you're seasoning your life with something actually good for you.
Read it while your coffee brews (seriously, that's like 10 times right there). Scroll through it instead of doom-scrolling social media. Whisper it during that awkward elevator ride. Make it your mental soundtrack when someone's telling you about their dream from last night in unnecessary detail.
The point isn't to speed-run through it like you're trying to set a world record. It's about letting these words marinate in your brain until they become your default response to chaos instead of spiraling.
What Actually Happens (Spoiler Alert: It's Good)
Look, I'm not promising you'll suddenly become a zen master who floats above life's problems. But here's what people who've done this actually report:
That knot in your stomach that shows up uninvited? It starts packing its bags. Those thoughts that replay like a broken record at 2 AM? They find new material. You start feeling like you have backup in this whole life thing, which is refreshing when most days feel like you're winging it.
The Real Talk
Here's the deal – we could keep doing what we're doing, letting anxiety rent space in our heads for free, or we could try something that's been working for people since before anxiety had a name.
Tiphani threw down the gauntlet, and I'm picking it up. Thirty-one days. One psalm. One hundred times a day. It sounds excessive until you realize we've probably spent more time this week watching people dance on TikTok.
Who's joining me? What's the worst that could happen? We accidentally memorize something that brings us peace. We develop a habit that doesn't require a subscription or involve buying anything?
Let's lock arms and give this a shot together. Our future selves – the ones who aren't lying awake wondering if that email sounded too aggressive – will thank us.