Experiencing God's Presence #213

Experiencing God's Presence #213

Praise the LORD, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands.

Psalm 103:20

A president’s or prime minister’s children may act as if they are going out in public on their own, but they have highly trained guardians watching them. These guardians not only specialize in observing and protecting, they also specialize in blending into the background. They do their job without being noticed, but they do it well. They have to; the stakes are very high.

Angels are like God’s secret service agents. They are ministering spirits sent to serve those who will receive salvation (Hebrews 1:14). They are messengers and warriors for God’s Kingdom agenda. They worship around His throne. They are not only present among us as created beings, they are also agents of the Presence of God. They minister at His command. Wherever He meets needs and encounters His people, they are present to help.

We see this often in biblical thought, where “an angel of the Lord” and “the Lord” were often used almost interchangeably. That’s because in ancient Jewish understanding, an angel’s task was so perfectly aligned with God’s instruction that an encounter with an angel was an encounter with God Himself. God created angels as agents of His own expression. They speak His words, carry out His plans, and listen for His instructions. They are an integral part of His relationship with us.

Why is this important to know? Because God has surrounded us with ministering spirits who carry out His will. We have warriors who battle on our behalf. We aren’t simply guarded and guided by an ethereal, amorphous Presence. We are guarded and guided by living beings who manifest the purposes and plans of God. Even when we feel alone, we aren’t. God makes sure of it.

Father, thank You for surrounding me with Your agents. You haven’t left me isolated and abandoned. You minister to me with Your own hand and Your own specially assigned creatures. Help me always remember how well-watched I am.