God's words are not meant to be cut apart but are meant to be taken in the context that they were written. In our memory verse this month, Psalm 91:11, "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." the psalmist is celebrating the Lord's incredible ability to protect His people. We not only have God and His truth protecting us, but He has commissioned His angels to guard us. Although this is part of God's ability, it does not mean that He absolutely guarantees the health and safety of anyone that demands it.

In our world, angels are depicted as chubby cherubs, pin-up glamour girls in gossamer attire, or effeminate males. Rarely do you the mighty angels mentioned in the Bible that took out armies or battled Satan's demons in the second heaven. Angels are battling for us; they are our guardians and God's messengers. We interact with them every day, yet we probably don't realize it. Do we know how many times angels have intervened on our behalf? Do we know how many time angels have been working behind the scenes in our lives? Do we know how many times they have delivered us? Do we recognize how much we owe these unseen servants of God?

As I said in the opening sentence, we cannot take verses out of context, so let's look at the previous two verses, "Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling." God has given us a condition in order to be protected by angels, we must make God our refuge. Our goal should be to maintain a close relationship and fellowship with God, to abide with Him. When we do this His promise is to send His angels to protect us. This is one way He is actively present in our lives.

We believe in things we do not see all the time. I don't see electricity, but I see the results when I flip a light switch. We don't see angels, yet we often see the results. Our protection may be invisible, but we still see the results. In ways we cannot detect, God is behind the scenes. Every moment He is directing our paths. These angels are standing as sentinels over our lives.

In times of trial, our own ideas are no match when the warfare is intense. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12)

We cannot win the battle on our own. It is won by His Spirit, who is often working through angelic beings to keep us in His ways.

This month we thank God for all the love He gives us every day, for His ever-watchful angels that are guarding us. With compassion and kindness beyond measure, He sends these steadfast soldiers to defend us. We thank God for the love that fills us daily and for His ever-watchful angels.