“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.” (Rev. 5:11 NIV)

When I was in Vietnam—before I was born again—I often arrived at places just after they had been attacked and left places just before they were attacked. I was shot at many times and could hear bullets whiz past my ears. I had mortars explode so close to me that I was knocked off my feet, yet I was never hit.

Later, after I returned home, I discovered that a pastor had prayed for me every day at his family’s dinner table: “Lord, please watch over Mike and keep him safe from harm.” I truly believe God heard those prayers and sent angels to protect me. Not long after I came home, I became a follower of Jesus—and in time, I did indeed inherit salvation.

Angels are everywhere

“But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly.” (Heb. 12:22)

The Bible makes it clear that God’s angels are not rare or distant. They are numerous, active, and present in God’s work.

You can’t always see them, but they are still there

When Elisha’s servant saw the enemy army surrounding them, he was terrified. But Elisha could see what his servant could not—God’s protection.

“Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:17)

Sometimes you see them without realizing it

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2)

Angels are God’s messengers

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.” (Luke 1:13)

Angels are sent to help God’s people

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.” (Psalm 34:7)

“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (Heb. 1:14)

Angels carry out God’s Word

“Bless the LORD, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.” )Psalm 103:20)

Therefore

Even when you cannot see what God is doing, you are never unprotected. God is able to send His angels to guard, guide, and deliver you according to His perfect will and timing. Heaven is actively at work on your behalf—often in ways you will never know until eternity.

“For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11)

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience.” (Heb. 10:22a NIV)

When I was about ten years old, I went to a five-and-dime store with my dad. There were shelves full of toys. When nobody was looking, I slipped a small toy into my pocket and walked out without paying for it.

Almost immediately, my conscience began to torment me. That night I couldn’t sleep. I imagined the worst—being arrested, going to jail, being exposed as a thief. The next day, when my dad returned to the same store, I went with him and secretly put the toy back on the shelf. Instantly, I felt relief and peace.

God has built something into us called a conscience.

Webster’s defines conscience as “a knowledge or sense of right and wrong, with a compulsion to do right… that leads to feelings of guilt.”

An old Indian once said, “A conscience is a wheel within your heart with sharp arrows pointing outward. When you do wrong, the wheel turns and the arrows hurt you. But if you keep doing wrong, the points break off.”

The Bible warns that this can happen:

“Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” (1 Tim. 4:2)

A neglected conscience can become dull. A violated conscience can become hardened. But a conscience cleansed by Christ becomes peaceful and free.

That’s why Scripture urges us:

“Having a good conscience…” (1 Peter 3:16)

“Keeping faith and a good conscience…” (1 Timothy 1:19)

And Hebrews reminds us that only Jesus can truly cleanse it.

Therefore

Don’t ignore your conscience—and don’t try to numb it. When it speaks, let it lead you to Christ. His blood doesn’t just forgive your sins; it cleanses your conscience, giving you real peace and full assurance before God.

“How much more shall the blood of Christ… cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14)

“When I am in distress, I call to You, because You answer me.” (Psalm 86:7 NIV)

Everyone is visited by trouble from time to time—it’s simply part of life in a fallen world. But God has not left us to face trouble alone. His Word is filled with promises that give us great assurance and confidence to turn to Him when trouble comes.

God protects and shelters us

“For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.” (Psalm 27:5 NIV)

God is our strength and present help

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1 NIV)

God is a refuge for the oppressed

“The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” (Psalm 9:9 NIV)

Therefore

No matter what kind of trouble you face—big or small, sudden or long-lasting—you are never facing it alone. God is your shelter, your strength, and your safe place. Call on Him with confidence, knowing that He is near and that He will answer you.

“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.” (Psalm 34:17 NIV)

“Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” (Phil. 2:4 NIV)

There is a surprisingly simple formula for happiness: help others.

Helping others does at least two immediate things:

·      First, you feel good because you are helping someone.

·      Second, they feel good because they are being helped. It’s a win–win situation.

Helping others reduces stress, increases joy, and creates a sense of peace and purpose.

 Kindness is contagious. When we see others do good, it inspires us to do good too.

Fulfill the law of Christ

But the main reason we help others isn’t because it benefits us. We do it because God tells us to.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2)

When you help others, you are serving Christ Himself

“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matt. 25:40)

Therefore

Look for someone to help today. Real joy doesn’t come from focusing on yourself—it comes from loving and serving others.

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matt. 6:14–15)

Two Promises

This passage of Scripture has two promises: one is positive, and one is negative. The one you receive depends totally on you. It has to do with forgiving others who have sinned against you. If you do forgive them, your Heavenly Father will forgive you (positive). If you do not forgive them, your Heavenly Father will not forgive you (negative).

Finding it hard or impossible to forgive someone?

One of the most difficult things a Christian will face is offering genuine forgiveness to those who have deeply hurt us. I love the story of Corrie Ten Boom’s encounter with the forgiving love of Jesus in her amazing book The Hiding Place.

Corrie Ten Boom worked against the Nazis in World War Two hiding Jews in her home. When she was caught, she was sent to a concentration camp where she was stripped of her dignity, saw her father and her sister (Betsie) die, and suffered more at the hands of other people than we could possibly imagine. This is precisely why her encounter with forgiveness is so memorable:

“It was at a church service in Munich that I saw him, the former S.S. man who had stood guard at the shower door in the processing center at Ravensbruck. He was the first of our actual jailers that I had seen since that time. And suddenly it was all there – the roomful of mocking men, the heaps of clothing, Betsie’s pain-blanched face.

He came up to me as the church was emptying, beaming and bowing. ‘How grateful I am for your message, Fraulein.’ He said. ‘To think that, as you say, He has washed my sins away!’

His hand was thrust out to shake mine. And I, who preached so often to the people in Bloemendaal the need to forgive, kept my hand at my side.

Even as the angry, vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him.

I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness.

As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.

And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on his. When he tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.”

Therefore

It’s a very simple concept. Forgiveness is a choice you choose to make, and non-forgiveness is also a choice you choose to make. Choose wisely!

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” — C. S. Lewis

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

This verse tells us three important promises about God.

1) He is our refuge (a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble).

2) He is our strength (the quality or state of being strong, in particular).

3) He is our ever-present help in the time of trouble (assist, aid, lend a helping hand to, give assistance to, come to the aid of).

Therefore

Because God is our refuge, our strength, and our ever-present help in trouble, we can stand firm without fear, confidently trusting Him in every circumstance and running to Him—not away from Him—when difficulties arise.

“For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance.” (Matt. 13:12)

We serve a God who supplies more than enough! In fact, one verse says it is, “a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over!” (Luke 6:38)

God Gives You the Power to Get Wealth!

“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth…” (Deut. 8:18)

Notice that this verse says it is God who gives you the “power to get wealth.” He doesn’t simply drop it out of the sky for you. You have a part in getting it.

You Must “Remember the Lord Your God”

Include God and put Him first in every part of the process (Matt. 6:33). Ask Him for wisdom and knowledge so that you will know what to do to obtain it (Matt. 7:7). He will give you productive ideas, talents, personal skills, gifts, and opportunities that will help you.

You must look for them, recognize them, develop them, and put them to work!

Keep in mind that even though God promises to supply all your needs (Phil. 4:19), it is usually disguised as work!

Therefore

Work hard with a good attitude, as though you are working for the Lord. After all, everything you need will come from Him!

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Col. 3:23–24)

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Cor. 15:58)

Your labor in the Lord is not in vain!

Sometimes it can be tiring “doing the right thing,” especially when so many others around you are not. It’s no longer popular to live according to God’s standards. But you may be surprised to know that it is not a new problem. Elijah complained to the Lord, “I am the only one who has remained faithful!” (1 Kings 19:10). But God told him that He was incorrect. He told him that 7,000 others also had remained faithful. That information must have been encouraging for Elijah to hear.

It’s true! God has lots of faithful followers!

You are not alone! So, be encouraged and don’t quit!

Therefore

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6:9)

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

When I was a teenager, I spent a couple of wonderful Alaskan summers commercial fishing and living with Joe Redington, Sr., and his family. Those summers were Alaska at its best!

A Note on the Door

It began when I came home from the last day of school and found a note on the door telling me my parents had moved to California! They told me to go to Emard Cannery in Anchorage to meet Joe Redington. Working with Joe was a great experience and a privilege. Joe is an Alaskan legend and the “father” of the Iditarod dogsled races. I helped him feed his dogs and loved watching him practice dog sledding—even in the summertime—with sleds equipped with wheels!

Joe Was a Great Mentor to Me and Taught Me a Lot

He and his family lived in a big house next to Flathorn Lake, completely off the grid—no electricity, no running water, no indoor plumbing—but we didn’t miss any of it! We collected seagull eggs and hunted and fished. I helped him deliver groceries and supplies to folks out in the wilderness. On long Alaskan summer days, we commercial fished in Cook Inlet until we had a full load of salmon. Then we made the long twelve-hour trip to Emard Cannery in Anchorage to deliver our load.

I Lost My Footing

One day, when we had a big load of fish and were about halfway across Cook Inlet, we stopped for a rest and dropped anchor. Joe went below to take a nap, and I was alone topsides. Part of my job was to keep the fish from drying out, so I hauled up seawater with a bucket on a rope. This time, as soon as I lowered the bucket over the edge into the water, it filled up—but I lost my footing, and the weight of it pulled me overboard!

My hip boots instantly filled with water and dragged me down even more. My boots stuck to my legs, and I couldn’t get them off. I couldn’t swim with them on! I was quickly running out of air.

Then I felt something grab me by the top of my hood and pull me up to the surface—and then back onto the boat! It was Joe! Joe told me he had just awakened from his nap. He came onto the deck just in time to see me disappear under the water. He was able to grab the gaff pole to reach for me. It was miraculous that he came on deck at exactly the moment he did and was able to snag the top of my hood. It was a miracle!

God Is the God of Perfect Timing!

“God sends angels to minister to those who will be heirs of salvation.” (Hebrews 1:14)

“My times are in Your hands—deliver me…” (Psalm 31:15)

“You are my hiding place; You will preserve me from trouble.” (Psalm 32:7a)