Several years ago, while I was doing volunteer work in Paraguay with several other members of the Family International, we had an ongoing ministry at a nearby prison. During one visit, an inmate I hadn’t met before related the following story.

Two months earlier, he and two other prisoners drugged their guards, took their guns, and escaped. Other police officers quickly realized what was happening and followed the men. One of the escapees died in the ensuing gun battle, the man giving me this account was shot in the leg and surrendered, and the third escapee was captured the next day.

By this point in the story I realized that this had all taken place around the corner from our house. I remembered distinctly that when we had heard gunshots, we had gathered in our house and prayed desperately for our safety and against further bloodshed.

“After I was wounded,” the inmate continued, “I turned and was about to shoot the policeman who had shot me, but then I heard a voice say, ‘Don’t shoot him! He is your brother. Give him your gun.’ I obeyed the voice and surrendered. The policeman could have shot and killed me right there, but he didn’t. I’m also very thankful now that I didn’t shoot him!”

We explained that we had prayed during the gun battle, and that we also pray every day for our safety. “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them” (Psalm 34:7). Perhaps it was one of the angels that watch over our house who helped him do the right thing. We are continuing to counsel this man, and hope to help him make a new start.  •

Your Own Angels

God will send angels just when you need them. You may hear a flutter over your shoulder, or think you see something out of the corner of your eye. Or maybe there will be an old man you meet on your path, who directs you the right way and seems to have a lively light and love in his eyes. Or you may just feel a certain warmth and peace—an assurance that somehow everything is going to be all right.

As things get worse and worse in this old world, you’ll need the help of these angelic beings more and more, and He’ll send them more and more. The Lord wants you to know that He loves you, that He cares, and sending angels to help you is just one of the many ways He shows it. So don’t forget that if you trust in God and His help, you’ll have angels watching over you—your own personal angel or angels, sent by the Lord to take care of you!