"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; ..." Psalm 91:11(NIV)

I woke up at 4 a.m. on a Saturday. No noise disturbed my sleep. No dog licked my faced. I just woke up. There was no prompting to do anything special, so I just got up and started my day early. Around 2 p.m. I started to fade, and stopped to rest on the couch. My son Robbie snuggled up next to me and we enjoyed a few moments together.

To explain my exhaustion, I mentioned to Robbie how early I'd awakened.

"That's weird, Mom," Robbie said. I woke up at 4 o'clock too."

"Why didn't you come downstairs?" I asked. "We could have spent the early morning together."

He got very still and silent, with an odd look on his face. "I was afraid to get up," he replied. I looked fully at Robbie and asked what had frightened him. "I thought I saw a man sitting in the chair beside my bed," Robbie answered sheepishly, a little embarrassed in the daylight of what had scared him in the dark.

In a moment of divine revelation, and without a pause, I responded, "Robbie, I'm not surprised you saw someone sitting by your bed at night. I've been praying for angels to protect you every day. And since you were a baby, I've prayed for God to send His biggest, strongest angels to watch over you and your brothers. Robbie, I think you got to see an angel this morning."

Relief flooded his features and together we grinned in delight at what God had allowed Robbie to see. Emboldened by my belief in his story and in God's protection, Robbie proceeded to share another sighting -- one that involved what looked like a man dressed in battle fatigues and on guard at the back window. He told me he hadn't said anything before because he thought people would make fun of him.

I told Robbie that for generations, angels had scared almost everyone who saw them. Who wouldn't be afraid at someone appearing where he shouldn't be? Just look at the Christmas story. Zechariah was "gripped with fear" when the angel Gabriel appeared to tell him he would be the father of John the Baptist -- the prophet who would tell about Jesus. Mary was told to "not be afraid" by the angel who told her she would bear a child. The shepherds were "terrified" when they saw an angel and heard of the birth of their Savior Jesus.

Heavenly messengers, our protectors, and worshippers of God -- angels have many roles. The Bible says they are created beings (Hebrews 7:7) and that we have probably seen and entertained angels without realizing it (Hebrews 13:2). But the Biblical description of angels that brings me the most personal comfort is that of protector. Psalm 91 speaks of God's care for us in this manner, "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone" (Psalm 91: 11-12).

As Christmas ends and I prepare for the New Year, I thank God for angels. Just as they appeared to Zechariah, Mary, the shepherds and others, they still appear today. In fact, I believe they appeared to a 12-year-old boy at the response of his mother's prayers for that boy's protection. Miracles still happen!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You so much for answering my prayers for protection. Thank You for loving us so much that You command Your angels to watch over us. Help me be more aware of Your work in this world -- through what I can see and what I can't see. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

***

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

Worship: Nearing the Heart of God by Brian T. Anderson & Glynnis Whitwer

The Air I Breathe by Louie Giglio

Visit Glynnis' Blog

Application Steps:

Using a Bible concordance, look up 5-10 references to angels. Write down their biblical characteristics. Compare that list to some popular beliefs about angels. (A concordance organizes Scripture verses by topic and words found in the verse. Several websites offer free concordances. My favorite is located at http://www.biblegateway.com/)

Reflections:

Read Psalm 91. What does it mean to dwell in the shelter of the Most High?

What does the psalmist say God will protect us from?

Have you ever known that God was with you in a time of trouble? How did God reveal Himself to you at that time?

Power Verses:

Luke 1:27b-28, "The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said 'Greetings, you who are highly favored. The Lord is with you." (NIV)

Psalm 34:7, "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them." (NIV)

Exodus 23:20, "See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared." (NIV)