First Sunday In Advent

On this first Sunday in Advent, our illuminations will be of God’s angels. These celestial beings brought light and learning to different people in very different minds and moods.

A relative of a very dear friend of mine was going abroad to have medical attention for a very serious illness. When my friend told me about it, I gave the usual responses of wishing the person well. However, on the night before that person was to travel, although the ill person did not know me and I really did not know the individual, I was led by our Lord to send a card of encouragement. I did the card and sent it by WhatsApp to my friend.

I have given you this information, just to say that after I sent that card, I was taken in a time of deep contrition and conviction. A wave of fear and dread took me by surprise. It washed upon me like the sudden force of a huge wave that had come from nowhere, it seemed, and drenched me from head to toe, as I sat there basking and musing on the safe, clear shore of good works. It catapulted me, I tell you, as I heard our Lord ask me. Do you believe in angels? Have you ever seen an angel? Who are angels? This had me before our Heavenly Father, totally dumb, helpless and ever penitent.

Permit me to share with you the words I was led to offer that ill person. These were words I heard the Spirit speak to me, and in unquestioned obedience I obeyed. I wrote them and sent them on without even thinking about what I was sending. Here are the words.

As you fly far away from home and friends,

Remember God’s angel to you attends,

You will be kept in God’s strong, tender arms,

Shielding you from undue fears and alarms,

I’ve prayed for God’s angel to go with you,

Our Heavenly Father will see you through. Amen!

I was stuck on the word, angel? Did I truly believe what I had told that child of God? Was I honest and sincere to a person, for whom Jesus died? When I told a very ill person, facing a most delicate treatment, in a strange country, among unknown doctors and nurses, where interpreters of the language are needed, that God’s angel was in attendance and working, what really did I mean by such a big, bold statement?

And this was the part that really had me in a complete mess, where I could not even raise my head, much more my eyes to our Heavenly Father. I’ve prayed for God’s angel to go with you. It was as if I had not seen this line, or was never conscious of it even being there. How could I pray something I did not know about, or believed in? Do I believe in angels? Do you believe in angels? Have you ever seen an angel? I have not!

But this I do know! Our gracious and wonderfully patient, persistent and saving Holy Spirit, is always at work in us. He never stops teaching us, telling us, revealing to us, showing us, correcting us and making us into the people our Heavenly Father wants us to be.

During this week, according to your faith, God will make you His living Advent illumination, as you receive all angel shaped lights, so that all may know and see that God’s heavenly angels are alive and working, for He has created them all. 

You alone are the LORD; You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You. Nehemiah 9: 6

I am fully convinced and persuaded that God has given this week to all those like me, who need, not just to say that we believe in angels, but we must understand more about angels and live the evidence of angels around us. 

What an Angelic Advent Week our Lord has prepared for us! May faith mount with wings like eagles and may trust soar with grace like doves.