Protected

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

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

I don't speak of angels very often. I think at times, angels serve specific purposes and functions. But I would never think of giving them any more credit than how God chooses to use them in our lives. Ultimately, angels are used throughout the bible as messengers of God, they've been used to do God's bidding, they even destroyed the Israelites' enemies. They have given direction, shut the mouths of the lions when David was fed to them, they opened the doors of jails and released the handcuffs on Peter's wrists.

I believe my best friend and I experienced angels in action two weekends ago. I don't know why I say that, because I don't give angels much thought, usually. But what happened was nothing less than a miracle.

We were on our way home from a friend's house and were waiting at a stop light, when in the rear view mirror, my friend saw an out of control car heading straight towards us with no sign of stopping or slowing down. With an amazingly calm voice, she warned me of what was about to happen. With an equal amount of strange "peace", I said "ok" and I sat and waited for the inevitable. We didn't tense up, cry out, panic or .. really even react. There was nothing we could do - but we were both calm.

A car rear ended us at a high rate of speed, spun us out sideways, across two lanes, over a median, and across 3 more lanes - and not one car was in our path!! God simply rolled the car we were in - backwards and gently onto the sidewalk across the street and parked us out of the flow of any traffic. He miraculously CLEARED the traffic so no others were involved!

The intersection this happened at is a very busy intersection in Port Hueneme. It felt as if although God didn't stop what was going to happen - He orchestrated His divine protection over us in a most incredible way. We were supposed to have friends with us - who didn't end up coming along. He cleared traffic so no other cars were involved. He sent "good Samaritans" to check up on us, to call 9-1-1 even before our car came to a complete stop, to stay and give their witness reports to the police who arrived.

We both walked away pretty much unharmed. The car was totaled. My friend ended up with whiplash. But to look at the wreckage, at what the force of impact did to her car, to see the distance we were flown, it is nothing less than a miracle that we walked away nearly unscathed.

As for the driver of the car that hit us, three men abandoned the car and fled on foot. The police caught two of them trying to hail a taxi two streets away. God knows who they are. I will allow Him and state law to mete out justice on them. I am at peace.

We called the friends we had been visiting, and they came onto the scene and offered comfort, assistance, a ride home. They were precious in our time of need. And one of them mentioned she sensed an angel had been nearby - a very big, protecting angel.

I do believe angels move among us, guiding, protecting, doing the LORD's bidding. And this night was an example of what I believe. The Lord protected us from serious harm, and I believe He used an angel or angels to accomplish exactly what He did.

Exodus 23:20 says, "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."

It occurred to us, later, that perhaps we were "targeted" that night, because at a recent church meeting, we realized how much we have each grown in our faith, in our involvement in church, in the ministries we have each joined and serve in. I'm not a "demon-chaser", I don't look for "the enemy" around every corner. But neither do I doubt the opposing forces Christians will often encounter.

Praise God we are alive and well. We were protected. And with that thought in mind, my best friend and I looked at each other days later, and had to ask, "What plans does the Lord have for us, for the enemy to want to take us out?"

I don't know, but my faith has grown by leaps and bounds and only made stronger by this experience. We do serve an awesome God! Hallelujah!!

Prayer: Lord, we continue to humbly offer up our thanks and praise for Your love and protection. And in so experiencing this near tragedy, I ask You to please protect our brothers and sisters far and wide, whom You are guiding to accomplish specific tasks in Your name. May You set a hedge of protection around them all, and send Your angels to guide and intervene as You would have them do. Amen

Prayer request: Continue to pray for our missionaries abroad, for the ministries going on in your own church, for guidance and protection of all those going about God's business.