All Your Ways

           “He shall give his angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways” Psalm 91:11. In all your ways. Some of my “all your ways” have recently included long trips to distant states, driving in sudden torrential rain and hail storms, driving at night on a very elk-ridden route, and having a bear in the back yard at 11:30 at night. This, along with all the more “regular” everyday events that fill our days. 

          Whatever comes our way as we travel along the paths of life, God gives His angels the job of watching over us as we go. I used to ask the Lord for very large angels to patrol our property line and all around our house- particularly if I was home alone with the children. I slacked off and forgot about all that until the other night when the bear came calling. Don’t get me wrong—I do not think that a bear showed up because I haven’t been asking for angels to patrol around the yard lately. I DO think that the incident made me more aware of my child-like requests and faith in the past and how I have perhaps taken my Heavenly Father for granted lately. Perhaps my faith and confidence have been in something or someone else. (Ouch!) 

          Not too long ago, my teenage son had to fly alone for the first time. I asked God to send a couple of His biggest, strongest, toughest looking angels to walk with him through the airports and unfamiliar cities. I knew they would- The Bible says so. Whether we realize it or not, whether we remember to ask for it or not, God says that He gives His angels assignments to watch over and protect us.  

          There is another scripture that clues us in on our response to having God’s protection over us at all times. Psalms 4:8 says, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For Thou, O Lord, dost make me to dwell in safety.” We have two responses. The first is to lie down in peace, and the second is to sleep. The first is a submission to God’s authority, with the peace that brings.  We trust Him enough to lie down. We are not in charge; we are not on our toes. We are prone, and not in a position to readily depend on ourselves. We have turned our safety and rescue over to Him. 

          The second response implies a total forfeit of any control, to God. We are totally helpless and at another’s mercy when we are asleep. It is a total relaxation and forfeiture of our rights and our selves. Have you ever lain down on the bed but refused to give up that last little bit of control? If you are a parent, or have been around that small child fighting sleep, you know just what I mean. (I will lie down, but I will stay awake and alert, [and therefore still in control], just in case.)  What the Psalmist is talking about, however, is a total, no-holes-barred trust in his Lord, and a complete turning over of his very self to the Lord’s care. Not only will the psalmist (and we) lie down and submit to God, he (and we) will sleep the ultimate rest of knowing and allowing God’s utter control of us and all pertaining to our lives and well being. 

          So today, if you are willing to realize the truth of God’s love and care for you, you can rest confidently in the fact that whatever your “all your ways” entail, God’s eye and angels are over you, keeping you, and making it possible for you to both submit to His will and ways, and give yourself totally to Him in faith and trust.