Yesterday I stepped out onto my patio just as my praying mantis pod (1”x1.5”) broke open and all the little mantis’ scurried out looking for food. This event reminded me of a past article I think you’ll like.
SECRET WINGS BACK OFF POTENTIAL PREDATORS
I looked out onto the patio and saw something strange going on. My cat, Snowy, was slowly backing up, ears flattened against his head and shackles up. He snarled and hissed at something that was scaring him and making him back off. I opened the door and went out slowly, expecting to see some big stray cat or dog ready to attack. What I saw was something quite different. It was only a 2-inches high, but a frightful sight. The creature was a praying mantis with its colorful, frightfully angular wings spread out wide like a mantle over her. She looked ferocious and she was running full speed toward Snowy! When Snowy saw me, he turned tail and scurried into the house through the opened patio door!
Praying mantis don’t often show their wings. It’s like their secret weapon and apparently, it works well.
Sometimes God’s angels act in a similar way, acting as our secret weapons. A few years back, I was having a particularly hard time at work and I felt weakened. I looked up the scripture in Psalm 103:20 “Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.” I prayed they would go to my work ahead of me and help me there.
When I got to work, I went upstairs to the open loft where we did our painting. Around the edge was a three-foot wooden railing. I could see in the spirit a very large angel sitting comfortably on the corner. His wings spread out to each side along the edge of my workspace. I felt protected and strong. This went on every day for several months until I moved to a new work location, where it seemed I didn’t need the added protection anymore.
Every year my garden is visited by praying mantis, so I’ve had plenty of opportunities to observe them, but only once did I see one spread its wings out like when it chased my cat across the patio.
Like the mantis, we don’t always go around showing off our stuff, but when it becomes necessary, we certainly have our secret weapons. One of them is the privilege to pray for the Lord to send angels. They are loosed in heaven and according to Hebrews 1:14, they are “all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation.” Most of the time we don’t even know they’re present, but they are strong to protect us and can back off danger.
Love, Carolyn
INSPIRATION FOR A BETTER LIFE:
No comments:
Post a Comment