An Army of Angels

by Crystal Bowman

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

For more than a decade, my husband and I were snowbirds, flying from Michigan to Florida when the temperatures dropped. My husband had business in both locations and traveled back and forth more often than I did.

Since our Florida home was in a safe neighborhood, I was not afraid to be alone at night when he was gone. But sometimes, if I had trouble falling asleep, I would ask God to send His angels to surround our house and keep me safe. I visualized an army of angels standing side by side around the perimeter of our house. I imagined them holding swords and shields as they stood guard. This mental picture comforted me and helped me get a good night of sleep.

One afternoon as I went for a walk, I ran into our next-door neighbor. We stood on the sidewalk and chatted for a while. Then she made a comment I didn’t understand. “Boy, you sure stay up late,” she said.

“No, I really don’t,” I explained. “I actually go to bed early.”

“Well, then, you must leave all your lights on,” she replied.

“No, I don’t. I only leave on one outdoor light by the garage door.” (It was a light she could not see from her house.)

I was getting more confused as she added, “Well, I got up the other night and looked out the window and it looked like every light in your house was on. Your house was lit up inside and out.”

It wasn’t until the next day that I thought more about her comments. I realized the lights she saw did not come from light bulbs but rather from the angels surrounding my house.

The Bible has many stories about angels. God often used them as messengers. He used angels to rescue and protect His people. He sent them to comfort and minister to His prophets—and even to His own Son! And sometimes he sent an entire army of angels.

In 2 Kings 6, we read the story of Elisha’s servant who was afraid when the king of Aram sent his army to fight the Israelites. When the servant got up early in the morning, he saw that enemy horses and chariots had surrounded the city. He asked Elisha, “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” (v. 15 NIV).

“Don’t be afraid,” Elisha answered, “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (v. 16 NIV). Then Elisha prayed for God to open the servant’s eyes, and the servant “saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (v. 17). God’s army of angels.

One day at my son’s house, I shared my angel story with my grandkids. That night as I tucked my eight-year-old grandson into bed, he said, “Gigi, will you pray for those angels to come around our house tonight?” It touched my heart to know he wanted the comfort and protection God’s angels give us.

The next time you desire God’s comfort and protection, ask Him to send His angels to surround you. But don’t be surprised by what the neighbors might say.

This article is brought to you by the Advance Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Crystal Bowman is a bestselling, award-winning author of more than 100 books including, Our Daily Bread for Kids. She and her husband have three married children and seven huggable grandchildren.

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Join the conversation. Have you an angelic experience to share?