Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. (Psalm 103:20 NLT)

We live in the natural world, but we coexist with the supernatural world. Our realm is visible, but there’s another realm that’s invisible. And it’s just as real as ours. We have physical bodies, but there are other beings who have spiritual bodies. The Bible refers to them as angels. In fact, it mentions angels more than three hundred times. Angels are real. They move back and forth between Heaven and Earth. They do vital work. And they’re actively involved in the lives of the followers of Jesus Christ.

Angels appear frequently in popular culture, which has led to some misconceptions about their nature and work. Here are a few things we need to understand about these important servants of God.

Some people believe that when you die, you become an angel. They comfort grieving loved ones by saying things like, “God needed another angel in Heaven” or “Now you have an angel looking over your family.” And while that may sound comforting, it’s not true. People do not become angels when they die.

Angels are created beings, completely separate from humans. Colossians 1:15–16 says, “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him” (NLT). Other passages of Scripture suggest that angels are eternal; they never die. Angels are divided into different categories, including the cherubim and the seraphim. But none of them are former humans.

Angels appear as men in Scripture. When I told that to my granddaughters, they weren’t happy. They said, “That’s not fair, Papa.” We often think of angels as feminine. We say, “She’s as pretty as an angel.” We don’t often say, “He’s as handsome as an angel.” But the reality is that when angels show up in the Bible, they appear as men.

When some female followers of Jesus went to Jesus’ tomb after His resurrection, “two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes” (Luke 24:4 NLT)—these “men” were angels. And after Jesus’ disciples saw Jesus ascending to Heaven, “two white-robed men suddenly stood among them” (Acts 1:10 NLT). These angels told Jesus’ disciples that Jesus had been taken to Heaven but that He would return.

Angels fulfill specific God-given responsibilities. They “carry out his plans” (Psalm 103:20 NLT). They could be described as God’s secret agents. Or His SEAL Team 6. They do their job, but they don’t draw attention to themselves.

We probably would be amazed to discover how many times angels have stopped us from doing something we’d regret, gotten us out of tight situations, protected us from harm, or spoken directly to us. Hebrews 1:14 sums up their role this way: “Angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation” (NLT).

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“Why did you beat your donkey those three times?” the angel of the Lord demanded. “Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me. Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.’” (Numbers 22:32–33 NLT)

One important work of angels is to stop people from doing things God doesn’t want us to do. Obviously, it’s important and serious work, usually done without our realizing it. Sometimes, though, it can take an unexpectedly humorous turn. That’s what happened in the story of Balaam and his donkey found in Numbers 22.

Balaam was sort of a prophet for hire—more P-R-O-F-I-T than P-R-O-P-H-E-T. Balak, the king of Moab, hired him to curse the children of Israel. Balaam set out on his donkey to do the very thing that God didn’t want him to do. So, God dispatched an angel. The angel’s job was to stop Balaam from cursing the people of Israel.

The angel positioned himself in the middle of the road Balaam was traveling and drew his sword. He was prepared to stop the prophet by any means necessary. Balaam’s donkey saw the angel, but the prophet didn’t. The donkey veered off the road into a field.

The prophet beat the donkey until it returned to the road. The angel moved to a narrow part of the road between two vineyard walls. The donkey tried to go around and pinned Balaam’s foot against the wall. Balaam got angry and beat the donkey again.

The angel moved once more to a spot in the road too narrow for the donkey to get around. So the donkey simply lay down. Enraged, Balaam beat the donkey yet again. And that’s when the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth. The ensuing conversation went something like this:

“What have I done to deserve your beating me three times?”

“You made me look like a fool! If I had a sword, I’d kill you!”

“You’ve ridden me all your life. Have I done anything like this before?”

“Well, no.”

Meanwhile, the angel was still standing there, visible to the donkey, invisible to Balaam. He finally made himself visible to Balaam. He said to Balaam, “Why did you beat your donkey those three times? . . . Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me. Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey” (Numbers 22:32–33 NLT). His words must have unnerved Balaam. The prophet realized that the angel had come to stop him from doing something seriously wrong.

What are the takeaway lessons from this story? Number one: Don’t talk to donkeys.

And number two: When God is trying to stop you, don’t keep going in the same direction. How many times have we been headed for destruction when God changed our course by sending an angel to stop us?

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As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” (Acts 1:10–11 NLT)

You’ve probably been prompted by an angel, whether you realize it or not. More than once, in fact. Based on the number of times they appear to God’s people in the Bible, it seems angels are busy intervening in our lives, giving us the push we need in crucial moments. They may not make themselves known, but they make God’s message known. They speak to us in subtle ways but leave no doubt about what we should do.

The Book of Acts begins with a quick visit from angels. In fact, angels show up all throughout the Book of Acts. But in chapter 1, they appear as Jesus’ apostles stand staring at the sky watching the Lord ascend to Heaven. Luke describes them as “two white-robed men” (verse 10 NLT), but they were almost certainly angels.

Just before He ascended, Jesus instructed His disciples to head for Jerusalem and wait there for the arrival of the Holy Spirit. And then He gave them the Great Commission: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8 NLT).

The angels nudged the disciples to quit sky-gazing and start the journey to Jerusalem. There was important, world-changing work to be done. The angels’ prompt was the kick in the tunic the apostles needed. And after the angels delivered it, they exited the scene. A single encounter was all God ordered.

We find a more individual prompt seven chapters later. “As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, ‘Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza’” (Acts 8:26 NLT). Notice that the angel didn’t give Philip many details. He didn’t tell him what he was supposed to do when he got to the desert. The angel’s job was to tell Philip to go to the desert. Period. And that’s exactly what the angel did.

Philip responded to the prompt and hopped on the southbound desert road. Along the way, he encountered a visiting dignitary from Ethiopia. Philip explained a passage of Scripture from Isaiah to the Ethiopian man, led the man to faith in Jesus, and baptized him. And all this happened because Philip listened to the angel and did what God wanted him to do.

I wonder how many times an angel has prompted me. I can think of several times when I’ve felt directly led to do something, like right now. I need to go to this person and talk to them. I need to take this step of faith. I need to act on this prompt. I have no doubt that those prompts came from an angel sent by God.

—

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“Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.” (2 Kings 6:16–17 NLT)

One of the most awe-inspiring stories about God’s use of angels is found in 2 Kings 6. To fully appreciate the account, some background information is necessary. The king of Syria declared war on Israel. The Syrian king devised secret battle plans with his servants. Unfortunately for him, nothing is secret from the Lord. God supernaturally revealed the king’s battle plans to the prophet Elisha. Elisha, in turn, relayed the plans to the king of Israel. The king of Israel then made the necessary strategic adjustments to thwart Syria’s plans.

After being outmaneuvered one too many times, the king of Syria began to suspect that an Israelite spy had infiltrated his inner circle. But then he received word about what Elisha was doing. The Syrian king learned that Elisha was staying in the town of Dothan. He sent an enormous army to surround Dothan. He intended to make Elisha pay for his God-assisted espionage.

The scene that plays out starting in verse 14 is almost comic. Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, gets up early in the morning while his master is still sleeping and walks outside to begin his day. What he sees blows his mind and shakes him to his core. The entire city is surrounded by Syrian troops and instruments of war. And Gehazi knows why they’re there.

So, while Elisha is trying to get a little shut-eye, Gehazi starts freaking out. He wakes the sleeping prophet and says something to the effect of, “Master! Master! We’re surrounded by our enemies! What are we going to do?”

Elisha did not panic when he heard the news. In fact, he was probably a little irritated that his sleep was interrupted.

“Don’t be afraid,” he told his servant. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” (verse 16 NLT). Obviously, that math didn’t make sense to Gehazi. Because he was assessing the situation based on what he could see physically.

Elisha asked God to sharpen Gehazi’s vision, to reveal what was invisible to the servant, so that he could have a more accurate sense of the situation. “The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire” (verse 17 NLT). Gehazi saw an invisible army of angels, ready to go to battle at God’s command.

Jesus alluded to a similar invisible army when he rebuked Peter for trying to “save” Him from being arrested. “Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?” (Matthew 26:53 NLT).

Angels have our backs. They stand ready to support us whenever God commands. So when you feel alone, anxious, or outnumbered, pray as Elisha did. Ask God to make you aware of the invisible army that surrounds and protects you.

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Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. (Psalm 103:20 NLT)

We live in the natural world, but we coexist with the supernatural world. Our realm is visible, but there’s another realm that’s invisible. And it’s just as real as ours. We have physical bodies, but there are other beings who have spiritual bodies. The Bible refers to them as angels. In fact, it mentions angels more than three hundred times. Angels are real. They move back and forth between Heaven and Earth. They do vital work. And they’re actively involved in the lives of the followers of Jesus Christ.

Angels appear frequently in popular culture, which has led to some misconceptions about their nature and work. Here are a few things we need to understand about these important servants of God.

Some people believe that when you die, you become an angel. They comfort grieving loved ones by saying things like, “God needed another angel in Heaven” or “Now you have an angel looking over your family.” And while that may sound comforting, it’s not true. People do not become angels when they die.

Angels are created beings, completely separate from humans. Colossians 1:15–16 says, “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him” (NLT). Other passages of Scripture suggest that angels are eternal; they never die. Angels are divided into different categories, including the cherubim and the seraphim. But none of them are former humans.

Angels appear as men in Scripture. When I told that to my granddaughters, they weren’t happy. They said, “That’s not fair, Papa.” We often think of angels as feminine. We say, “She’s as pretty as an angel.” We don’t often say, “He’s as handsome as an angel.” But the reality is that when angels show up in the Bible, they appear as men.

When some female followers of Jesus went to Jesus’ tomb after His resurrection, “two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes” (Luke 24:4 NLT)—these “men” were angels. And after Jesus’ disciples saw Jesus ascending to Heaven, “two white-robed men suddenly stood among them” (Acts 1:10 NLT). These angels told Jesus’ disciples that Jesus had been taken to Heaven but that He would return.

Angels fulfill specific God-given responsibilities. They “carry out his plans” (Psalm 103:20 NLT). They could be described as God’s secret agents. Or His SEAL Team 6. They do their job, but they don’t draw attention to themselves.

We probably would be amazed to discover how many times angels have stopped us from doing something we’d regret, gotten us out of tight situations, protected us from harm, or spoken directly to us. Hebrews 1:14 sums up their role this way: “Angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation” (NLT).

—

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“I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you.” (Job 42:2 NLT)

Sovereignty is a tough concept to wrap our heads around, especially in today’s highly influenceable culture. Everyone answers to someone. Public figures change their stances based on the feedback they get. Politicians are swayed by donors. Corporations react to boycotts. In contrast to the famous sign on Harry Truman’s desk, the buck doesn’t seem to stop anywhere. There is no ultimate authority, no sovereignty.

Except with God.

Job scratched the surface of God’s sovereignty when he said to God, “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you” (Job 42:2 NLT). In fact, God will do what He pleases with whomever He chooses whenever He wishes. That’s absolute power. God answers to no one. He is not swayed by public opinion or conventional wisdom. He doesn’t have to ask anyone’s permission or worry about anyone’s reaction. He doesn’t seek approval, likes, or popularity. God can’t be second-guessed because everything He does is perfect. His ways are right—always and without fail.

Psalm 115:3 says, “Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes” (nlt). Some people challenge His sovereignty by asking, “What about the bad things that happen in life? Are they part of what He wishes?” And the answer is yes. Evil, suffering, and tragedy aren’t arguments against a sovereign God. They are all firmly under His control. Whatever happens in this life, good or bad, is either caused by God or allowed by God. I know that’s hard for some of us to digest. But that’s because we’re limited in our present circumstances.

Someday, we will better understand the wisdom and purpose of God’s plan. In the meantime, we take the word of the psalmist who wrote this about God: “Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created. Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans” (Psalm 119:90–91 NLT). Everything serves God’s plans.

The apostle Paul wrote, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28 NLT). Everything is part of God’s good plan.

In Paul’s words, we find the most amazing truth about God’s sovereignty. The English historian Lord Acton wrote that absolute power corrupts absolutely. But he was referring to human authorities, none of whom ever possessed “absolute power.” The amazing truth is that God, who does possess absolute power, uses His power to accomplish genuinely good things in the lives of His people. God’s sovereignty can’t be separated from His love.

That means we can trust Him to care for us. We may not always understand what that care looks like or why certain things happen, but we can be confident that God will work all things for our good. No one and nothing can thwart His will. We can rest assured in His sovereignty.

—

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“And in the future, your children will ask you, ‘What does all this mean?’ Then you will tell them, ‘With the power of his mighty hand, the Lord brought us out of Egypt, the place of our slavery.’” (Exodus 13:14 NLT)

Have you ever been in a situation where the only way out was God? In other words, if God didn’t come through for you, you were dead in the water. Maybe it was a report from a doctor who said, “I’m sorry. There’s nothing more we can do for you.” Maybe it was a financial catastrophe that had you on the brink of collapse. Maybe it was the death of a loved one when you thought, I cannot survive this. That’s the type of situation the Israelites faced in Exodus 13.

God had delivered them from Egypt and was leading them to the Promised Land. The problem was they were being chased by the powerful Egyptian army, and their escape route was blocked by the Red Sea. They found themselves in a seemingly impossible situation, trapped between an unconquerable army and an impassable sea.

The good news? God was leading them. “For with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37 NKJV). God parted the sea, and the Israelites escaped.

Have you ever looked up the phrase “But God” in the Bible? We see it in Noah’s story. The Lord told Noah to build an ark. Noah boarded it with his family, and they bobbed around in the water for forty days and forty nights. By the thirty-eighth day, Noah must have been thinking, This is impossible! I’m so tired of hanging out with a bunch of stinking animals. Will we ever find dry land? And then Genesis 8:1 says, “But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and livestock with him in the boat. He sent a wind to blow across the earth, and the floodwaters began to recede” (NLT). But God.

We see it in the story of Joseph. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. He was falsely accused of a terrible crime by Potiphar’s wife and sent to prison. Talk about an impossible situation! But in prison, Joseph used his gift from God for interpreting dreams to help Pharaoh’s cupbearer. The cupbearer was released and went back to work for Pharaoh. When Pharaoh had a dream he couldn’t understand, the cupbearer recommended Joseph. Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream and became the second most powerful man in Egypt. A famine struck the land, and Joseph was put in charge of the food supply. And guess who came to Egypt to buy food? Joseph’s brothers, the ones who had sold him into slavery. Joseph said to them, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people” (Genesis 50:20 NLT). But God.

Not even death has the final word. Death seems so permanent, so hopeless. But we read in Psalm 49:15, “But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself” (NIV). But God.

How big is your problem? How big is your obstacle? How big is what you’re facing?

The good news for you is that God is bigger and more powerful than anything you’re facing.

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Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. (James 4:13–14 NLT)

Life passes quickly, although it doesn’t always seem that way. When you’re young, life seems to move at a snail’s pace. I vividly remember being in elementary school, bored beyond comprehension. I was just waiting for the clock to strike the right number so that I could get up for recess or go home. It seemed like I was in elementary school for thirty years. Every day seemed to take forever.

Now weeks fly by in an instant. Another month comes and goes. And before you know it, a new year has arrived. Billy Graham was once asked what the greatest surprise of his life was. He replied, “The brevity of it.”

Researchers tell us that the reason life seems to go faster when you’re older is that you’re not having as many new experiences. You get into routines. You go to the same restaurant, you sit at the same table, you order the same thing off the menu. Apparently, variety is not just the spice of life; it’s also the slow-er of time.

James compared life on this earth to a morning fog: “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here for a little while, then it’s gone” (James 4:14 NLT). But he didn’t mourn life’s shortness. Instead, he urged believers to embrace the challenge of living a meaningful, fulfilling, godly life—a life that matters—all the while realizing that that life could end at any moment. He continued, “What you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.’ Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil” (verses 15–16 NLT).

He was talking about living with a sense of urgency. That’s not the same as rushing into things. There’s certainly nothing wrong with methodical thinking or long-range planning. The mistake comes in taking for granted that we have the time to do what needs to be done. The mistake comes in assuming that we know how things will play out.

God has surrounded us with opportunities. To unlock the power of prayer in our lives. To take deep dives into His Word and come away with a greater understanding of Him and His will. To share the amazing truth of Christ with people who don’t know Him. To use the gifts He’s given us. To make a difference in the lives of people in need.

No matter how many years God allows us to live, we don’t have enough time to become complacent about seizing those opportunities. We don’t have enough time to procrastinate.

—

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