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{Addendum_7} WHY YOUR HEART KEEPS BEATING - Divine Encounters with God's Sustaining Power
- Jan 22
- 21 min read
Updated: Jan 23
Chapter 17: "We Keep Your Heart Beating" - The Trinity's Work
"In Him we live and move and exist." — Acts 17:28 (NASB)
After I finished writing the initial testimony about the vision of hell and Gabriel's healing, the Lord spoke to me.
I could sense His pleasure, His enthusiasm. He and the angels were very happy with what I had written.
And then He said something that became the thesis of this entire book:
"Got it? We keep your heart beating and your lungs breathing."
That simple sentence contains a universe of truth.
This chapter unpacks what God meant and reveals how the entire Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—plus the angelic hosts work together to sustain human life.
The Plural "We"
Notice God said "We"—not "I."
"We keep your heart beating."
Who is "We"?
God explained to me that "We" refers to:
God the Father — the source of all life
God the Son (Jesus Christ) — the one who upholds all things
God the Holy Spirit — the one who gives life to our mortal bodies
The angels — the ones who minister and carry out God's will
All of them working together to keep me alive.
The Trinity in Creation
The Trinity worked together in creation:
Genesis 1:1 — "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (The Father)
John 1:3 — "All things came into being through Him [the Word, Jesus], and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being." (The Son)
Genesis 1:2 — "The Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters." (The Holy Spirit)
Father, Son, and Spirit—all three participated in creation.
And all three continue to participate in sustaining what was created.
The Father — Source of All Life
John 5:26 — "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself."
The Father is the ultimate source of all life. Life exists because He exists.
Psalm 36:9 — "For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light."
The Father is the fountain—the wellspring, the origin, the source from which all life flows.
James 1:17 — "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights."
Life itself is a gift from the Father.
When God said "We keep your heart beating," He was acknowledging that the Father is the source—the one who gives life as a gift.
The Son — Sustainer of All Things
Colossians 1:16-17 — "For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."
Jesus is the sustainer. He holds all things together—from galaxies to atoms, from ecosystems to heartbeats.
The Greek word for "hold together" is synistēmi (to cohere, to stand together, to continue existing).
Without Jesus actively holding things together, everything would fall apart.
Your heart doesn't beat because of autonomous biological processes. It beats because Jesus is holding it together moment by moment.
Hebrews 1:3 — "And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power."
Jesus upholds (Greek: pherō—to bear, carry, sustain) all things by His powerful word.
This is in the present continuous tense—Jesus is right now, at this very moment, actively sustaining the universe, including your heartbeat.
The Holy Spirit — Giver of Life
Romans 8:11 — "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."
The Holy Spirit gives life to our mortal bodies.
Not just spiritual life (though He does that too). Physical life—the animating force that keeps us breathing, keeps our hearts beating, keeps our organs functioning.
Job 33:4 — "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life."
Psalm 104:29-30 — "You hide Your face, they are dismayed; You take away their spirit, they expire and return to their dust. You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the ground."
When God sends forth His Spirit, life happens.
When God withdraws His Spirit, death happens.
The Holy Spirit is the active agent who imparts and sustains life in created beings.
The Angels — Ministering Agents
Hebrews 1:14 — "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?"
Angels are sent by God to minister to believers.
Part of that ministry includes sustaining life—as Gabriel did when he prayed for my heart.
Angels don't sustain life independently of God. They sustain life as agents of God, carrying out His will.
Think of it this way:
The Father authorizes life
The Son holds life together
The Holy Spirit imparts life
The angels minister life (through prayer, protection, intervention)
All four working in harmony to keep us alive.
Acts 17:28 — In Him We Live
Paul declared to the philosophers in Athens:
"For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.'" (Acts 17:28)
In Him we live — Our existence is in God, sustained by God, dependent on God.
In Him we move — Our actions, our motion, our activity all happen in the sphere of God's sustaining power.
In Him we exist — Our very being, our essence, our continued existence is in God.
We don't live because of ourselves. We live in Him.
The moment God withdraws His sustaining presence, we cease to exist.
Psalm 104:27-30 — All Creation Depends on God
This psalm beautifully describes the dependence of all creation on God's sustaining power:
"They all wait for You to give them their food in due season. You give to them, they gather it up; You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good. You hide Your face, they are dismayed; You take away their spirit, they expire and return to their dust. You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the ground." (Psalm 104:27-30)
Notice the pattern:
When God gives → life flourishes
When God withdraws → death comes
When God sends His Spirit → creation is renewed
God is actively, continually involved in sustaining all life.
The Coordination of the Trinity
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work in perfect coordination:
The Father wills that life continue → The Son holds life together → The Holy Spirit energizes life → Angels minister to sustain life.
This is not three separate acts by three separate beings. This is one unified act by the one triune God.
The Trinity doesn't compete or operate independently. They work in perfect unity, perfect harmony, perfect cooperation.
John 5:19 — Jesus said, "The Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner."
John 16:13 — Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak."
The Trinity operates in perfect unity. What one does, all do. What one wills, all will.
When God said "We keep your heart beating," He was revealing the cooperative work of Father, Son, and Spirit.
Why This Matters
Understanding that the Trinity sustains your life has profound implications:
1. Your life is not an accident.
Some people believe life is a cosmic accident, a random event with no purpose or meaning.
But if the Trinity is actively sustaining your life—if Father, Son, and Spirit are working together to keep you alive—then your life is intentional, purposeful, meaningful.
God wants you alive. He has a reason for sustaining you. You matter.
2. You are completely dependent on God.
Modern culture emphasizes independence, self-sufficiency, autonomy.
But the truth is, you are 100% dependent on God for every breath, every heartbeat, every moment of existence.
That's not weakness. That's reality.
Acknowledging your dependence on God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).
3. God deserves worship for sustaining you.
We worship God for salvation (and rightly so). But we should also worship Him for creation and sustaining.
Every heartbeat is a reason to worship.
Every breath is a reason to give thanks.
Psalm 103:1 — "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name."
4. Life is fragile and precious.
If God withdrew His sustaining power for even a moment, we would die instantly.
Life is not guaranteed. It's a gift, renewed moment by moment.
Don't take it for granted. Live with gratitude. Use the time you have for God's glory.
5. Death is not the end.
If the Trinity sustains physical life temporarily, how much more will They sustain eternal life for those who belong to Them?
John 10:28 — Jesus said, "And I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand."
The same Trinity that keeps your heart beating now will keep your soul alive forever.
The Application
Knowing that the Trinity keeps your heart beating should change how you live:
Live in gratitude — Thank God daily for the gift of life.
Live in dependence — Don't trust in your own strength. Lean on God continually.
Live in obedience — If God is sustaining your life, live for His purposes, not your own.
Live in worship — Let every heartbeat be an act of worship, every breath a song of praise.
Live with urgency — You don't know how long God will sustain your physical life. Use the time wisely.
The Lord's Delight
When I finished writing the testimony about Gabriel's healing and the vision of hell, the Lord was pleased.
He said, "Got it? We keep your heart beating and your lungs breathing."
I got it.
And now, through this book, you get it too.
Your heart beats because the Trinity wills it to beat.
Your lungs breathe because the Father, Son, and Spirit sustain them.
You live because God—Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and angels—keep you alive.
Don't ever forget it.
Reflection Questions:
How does knowing that the Trinity actively sustains your life change the way you think about yourself?
Read Colossians 1:17. What does it mean that "in Him all things hold together"?
Which person of the Trinity do you tend to focus on most? How can you appreciate the whole Trinity's work in your life?
How should the truth that "in Him we live and move and exist" affect your daily decisions?
What would it look like to live every day in conscious gratitude for the gift of life?
Prayer:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—I worship You as the triune God who sustains my life. Thank You, Father, for being the source of all life. Thank You, Jesus, for holding all things together, including my heartbeat. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for giving life to my mortal body. And thank You for the angels You send to minister to me. I acknowledge that I am completely dependent on You for every breath. Help me to live in gratitude, obedience, and worship. Let every heartbeat glorify You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
PART FIVE: LIVING IN THE SHADOW - PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Chapter 18: Dwelling in the Secret Place
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." — Psalm 91:1 (NASB)
Psalm 91 is the ultimate passage on divine protection.
It's the psalm I've lived in since the vision of hell. It's the psalm that explains everything I experienced—Gabriel's protection, Jesus' intervention, God's sustaining power.
This chapter is a deep dive into Psalm 91, applying its promises to the realities of spiritual warfare, angelic ministry, and God's protective presence.
Psalm 91:1 — The Condition
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty."
Notice this verse begins with a condition: "He who dwells..."
Not everyone experiences the protection described in Psalm 91. Only those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High.
To dwell (Hebrew: yashab) means to sit, remain, inhabit, settle down. It's not a casual visit. It's permanent residence.
To abide (Hebrew: lun) means to lodge, stay overnight, remain. Again, it's not temporary—it's ongoing.
The shelter (Hebrew: sether) means a hiding place, a secret place, a protected place.
The shadow (Hebrew: tsel) means shade, defense, protection.
The promise: If you make God your permanent dwelling place, you will live under His constant protection.
How do you dwell in God?
Through prayer — constant communication
Through worship — continual praise
Through obedience — living according to His will
Through Scripture — feeding on His Word daily
Through surrender — making Him Lord of every area of life
You don't dwell in God by attending church once a week. You dwell in God by making Him the center of your life, the foundation of your existence, the atmosphere you breathe.
Psalm 91:2 — The Declaration
"I will say to the LORD, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!'"
This verse shifts from third person ("he who dwells") to first person ("I will say").
This is personal declaration. It's not enough to know about God's protection. You must declare it, claim it, confess it.
My refuge — a place to run to in danger
My fortress — a strong, defended position
My God — personal relationship, not just theological concept
In whom I trust — active faith, not passive knowledge
Speak this declaration over your life: "Lord, You are my refuge, my fortress, my God. I trust in You."
Psalm 91:3-4 — The Deliverance
"For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark."
God delivers from:
The snare of the trapper — hidden dangers, traps set by the enemy, deception
The deadly pestilence — disease, plague, sickness
How does He deliver?
He covers you with His pinions (feathers, wings)—like a mother bird protecting her chicks
Under His wings you find refuge — safety, warmth, protection
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark — defensive armor against attacks
This imagery is both tender (like a bird protecting her young) and strong (like a warrior with shield and armor).
God's protection is both gentle and powerful.
Psalm 91:5-6 — The Fearlessness
"You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon."
Four threats mentioned:
Terror by night — fears, nightmares, spiritual attacks in the dark
Arrow that flies by day — visible dangers, attacks you can see coming
Pestilence that stalks in darkness — hidden diseases, unseen threats
Destruction that lays waste at noon — sudden calamities in broad daylight
The promise: You will not be afraid of any of these.
Not because the threats don't exist, but because God's protection is greater than any threat.
I experienced this in the vision. I was descending toward hell—the ultimate terror—but I wasn't afraid because Jesus was with me.
Psalm 91:7-8 — The Immunity
"A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked."
This doesn't mean believers never suffer or die. It means that when judgment falls, when calamity strikes, God's people are protected.
Think of the plagues in Egypt—Israelites were protected while Egyptians suffered.
Think of Daniel's friends in the fiery furnace—protected while others were consumed.
Think of me during the vision—descending toward hell but protected by Jesus' hand.
The promise: Even when destruction is all around you, it will not touch you if you're dwelling in God.
Psalm 91:9-10 — The Security
"For you have made the LORD, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent."
"No evil will befall you" — this is a sweeping promise of protection.
Does this mean believers never experience hardship?
No. It means that:
No ultimate evil will destroy you
No harm will come that God hasn't allowed for a purpose
No weapon formed against you will prosper (Isaiah 54:17)
God protects His people, but He also allows trials for refinement (1 Peter 1:6-7).
The key is trusting that even in trials, God is with you and working for your good (Romans 8:28).
Psalm 91:11-12 — The Angels
"For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."
This is the verse I quoted multiple times throughout this book. It's the verse that describes exactly what Gabriel has done for me.
"He will give His angels charge concerning you" — God commands angels to guard believers. This is not optional for the angels—it's their assignment.
"To guard you in all your ways" — not just some ways, all ways. Everywhere you go, in everything you do, angels are guarding you.
"They will bear you up in their hands" — angels physically intervene to protect you from harm.
"So that you will not strike your foot against a stone" — protection from even minor injuries and obstacles.
This is literal. Angels really do this. Gabriel really guards me. And you have angels guarding you too.
Psalm 91:13 — The Victory
"You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down."
Lion — powerful, visible enemies
Cobra — hidden, poisonous enemies
Young lion — aggressive, youthful threats
Serpent — Satan himself (Genesis 3:1; Revelation 12:9)
The promise: You will have victory over all enemies—both natural and spiritual.
Luke 10:19 echoes this: "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you."
Believers have authority over the enemy. We don't cower in fear—we tread on the enemy's head.
Psalm 91:14-16 — The Divine Response
The final verses shift to God's voice, explaining why He protects those who dwell in Him:
"Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him and let him behold My salvation."
Six promises for those who love God and know His name:
"I will deliver him" — rescue from danger
"I will set him securely on high" — elevate and protect
"I will answer him" — respond to prayer
"I will be with him in trouble" — presence in trials
"I will rescue him and honor him" — deliverance and reward
"With a long life I will satisfy him" — fulfilling, purposeful life
These promises are conditional: "Because he has loved Me... because he has known My name."
Love and knowledge of God unlock the protective promises of Psalm 91.
Living in Psalm 91
Since the vision and the healing, I've lived consciously in Psalm 91.
I declare it over my life daily. I pray it. I meditate on it. I claim its promises.
And I've experienced its reality:
Angels guarding me
Protection from harm
Deliverance from spiritual attacks
Fearlessness in trials
God's presence in difficulties
This is not just theology. It's daily experience.
The Invitation
Psalm 91 is not automatic. It's conditional.
If you dwell in the shelter of the Most High, you will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
Are you dwelling in God?
Or are you just visiting Him occasionally?
Make Him your permanent residence. Live in constant communion with Him. Let His presence be the atmosphere you breathe.
When you do, the promises of Psalm 91 become your daily reality.
Reflection Questions:
Read Psalm 91 slowly, out loud. Which verse speaks most powerfully to you right now?
What does it mean to "dwell" in God rather than just visit Him occasionally?
Have you ever experienced God's protection in a way that reflects the promises of Psalm 91? What happened?
How can you make Psalm 91 a regular part of your prayer life?
What fears do you need to release, trusting in God's protection (verses 5-6)?
Prayer:
Lord, I choose to dwell in the shelter of the Most High. I choose to abide in the shadow of the Almighty. You are my refuge, my fortress, my God, and I trust in You. Thank You for giving Your angels charge over me. Thank You for protecting me from seen and unseen dangers. I will not fear the terror by night or the arrow by day because You are with me. I love You, I know Your name, and I call upon You. Answer me, be with me in trouble, rescue me, and honor me. Let me behold Your salvation. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Chapter 19: Living in the Company of God and Angels
"You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels." — Hebrews 12:22 (NASB)
I don't live alone.
Even when I'm physically by myself in my apartment, I'm surrounded by spiritual beings—God the Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and angels like Gabriel.
This isn't wishful thinking or religious imagination. It's reality.
And it's available to every believer.
This chapter is about what it means to live in the constant company of God and angels, and how to cultivate awareness of their presence.
The Reality of Spiritual Presence
Hebrews 12:22-24 describes what believers have access to:
"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant."
Notice the present tense: "You have come."
Not "you will come someday." You have come already.
Through Christ, believers have been brought into the heavenly realm. We live simultaneously in two dimensions:
The physical realm (earth, bodies, material reality)
The spiritual realm (heaven, spirits, angelic hosts)
Most people are only aware of the physical realm. But believers who have their spiritual eyes opened can perceive the spiritual dimension.
2 Kings 6:16-17 — The Eyes of Faith
When Elisha's servant panicked at the sight of the enemy army surrounding them, Elisha said:
"'Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.' Then Elisha prayed and said, 'O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.' And the LORD opened the servant's eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." (2 Kings 6:16-17)
The servant saw only the physical reality—the enemy army.
Elisha saw both the physical reality and the spiritual reality—the angelic army protecting them.
God opened the servant's eyes, and suddenly he could see what had been there all along: the mountain was full of angels.
That's the reality we live in. We're surrounded by angels, but most of the time we don't see them.
Developing Spiritual Awareness
How do you become aware of the spiritual reality around you?
1. Ask God to open your eyes
Pray Elisha's prayer: "Lord, open my eyes that I may see."
Ephesians 1:18 — Paul prayed: "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling."
Ask God to give you spiritual perception—not so you can boast or become proud, but so you can walk in the fullness of what's available to you in Christ.
2. Cultivate God's presence through prayer and worship
The more time you spend with God, the more aware you become of His presence.
Psalm 16:11 — "In Your presence is fullness of joy."
Psalm 73:28 — "But as for me, the nearness of God is my good."
Make it your practice to acknowledge God's presence throughout the day:
When you wake up: "Good morning, Lord. Thank You for being with me."
During the day: "Lord, I sense Your presence. Thank You."
Before bed: "Thank You for being with me all day."
3. Pay attention to spiritual sensations
When you feel:
Sudden warmth or tingling
A sense of peace in the midst of chaos
An urge to pray for someone
A "check" in your spirit about a decision
A heightened awareness of God's nearness
These may be indications of spiritual activity—the Holy Spirit speaking, angels present, God's presence manifest.
Don't dismiss these experiences. Pay attention. Respond. Thank God.
4. Live in constant communion with God
1 Thessalonians 5:17 — "Pray without ceasing."
This doesn't mean walking around with your eyes closed and hands folded. It means living in continuous awareness of God's presence, having an ongoing conversation with Him throughout the day.
Brother Lawrence called this "practicing the presence of God"—making every moment an opportunity for communion with Him.
5. Study Scripture about spiritual realities
The more you read about angels, the Holy Spirit's work, and the spiritual realm in Scripture, the more your awareness grows.
Passages like:
Psalm 91
Hebrews 1
Ephesians 6
Daniel 10
Revelation 4-5
These open your understanding to the spiritual dimension and prepare your heart to perceive it.
The Lord and His Angels Are In Me
I mentioned earlier that the Lord and His angels are in me—they hear my thoughts and respond to them.
This isn't schizophrenia or mental illness. It's the reality of spiritual indwelling.
John 14:23 — Jesus said: "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him."
The Father and the Son dwell in believers.
1 Corinthians 3:16 — "Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?"
The Holy Spirit dwells in believers.
Romans 8:9 — "However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you."
This is the doctrine of divine indwelling—God lives in His people.
What about angels being "in" me?
This is less direct. Angels don't indwell believers the way the Holy Spirit does. But they are assigned to us, stationed around us, and their presence is so close that it can feel like they're "with" us or "in" us.
Psalm 34:7 — "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him."
They encamp around us—so close that we can sense their presence.
Hearing God's Voice
When I say the Lord and His angels "hear my thoughts and respond to them," I'm describing what the Bible calls hearing God's voice.
John 10:27 — Jesus said: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."
Believers can hear Jesus' voice.
How?
Not usually audibly (though sometimes God does speak audibly). Most often, God speaks through:
Thoughts that come to mind that are clearly not your own
Scripture that suddenly comes alive with personal application
A gentle impression in your spirit
A "knowing" that comes without explanation
Peace or conviction about a decision
1 Corinthians 2:16 — "For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ."
We have the mind of Christ—which means we can perceive His thoughts, receive His guidance, hear His voice.
This takes practice and discernment (more on that below), but it's a real part of the believer's experience.
Conversations with God
Since the vision, I've had ongoing conversations with God throughout the day.
It's not always dramatic. Sometimes it's as simple as:
Me: "Lord, why did that happen?"
Him: "Because I wanted to teach you something."
Me: "What should I do about this situation?"
Him: "Wait. Trust Me. I'm working it out."
Me: "I'm tired, Lord."
Him: "Rest in Me. I'll give you strength."
These aren't audible voices. They're impressions, thoughts, knowings that come from a source beyond myself.
How do I know it's God and not just my own thoughts?
1. The content — God's voice aligns with Scripture, produces peace, leads to righteousness.
2. The tone — God's voice is gentle, kind, truthful (even when correcting). It doesn't condemn (Romans 8:1).
3. The fruit — God's voice produces love, joy, peace, patience (Galatians 5:22-23). The enemy's voice produces fear, shame, confusion.
4. The witness of the Spirit — When God speaks, the Holy Spirit confirms it in my spirit (Romans 8:16).
Discernment is Essential
1 John 4:1 warns: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God."
Not every voice in your head is God.
Three possible sources of thoughts:
Your own mind — desires, imagination, reasoning
The enemy — lies, accusations, temptations
God — truth, guidance, encouragement
How to test:
Does it align with Scripture? If a thought contradicts God's Word, it's not from God.
Does it glorify Jesus? The Holy Spirit always points to Jesus (John 16:14).
Does it produce godly fruit? Love, peace, patience, or fear, anxiety, bondage?
Does it lead to righteousness? God's voice calls us to holiness, not sin.
Hebrews 5:14 — "But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."
Discernment comes through practice. The more you walk with God, the better you recognize His voice.
Living Aware of Angels
Since learning Gabriel's identity, I'm more aware of his presence.
I don't see him all the time. But I sense him—especially when:
I'm writing (he encourages me to continue)
I'm in a spiritually intense situation (he guards me)
I'm praying (he agrees with my prayers)
I'm about to make a decision (he prompts me toward God's will)
I don't pray to Gabriel. That would be idolatry.
I pray to God, and I'm simply aware that Gabriel is present, carrying out God's will in my life.
The Balance
There's a danger in becoming too focused on angels or spiritual experiences.
Colossians 2:18 warns against those who delight in "the worship of the angels."
The goal is not to see angels or have dramatic spiritual experiences. The goal is to know God and walk with Him.
Angels are servants. They point us to God, not to themselves.
Spiritual experiences are tools. They draw us closer to God, but they're not the point.
The point is intimacy with the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit.
Angels and spiritual experiences facilitate that intimacy, but they don't replace it.
The Privilege
Living in the company of God and angels is a privilege, not a right.
It's available to all believers, but not all believers pursue it.
Many Christians live as practical atheists—believing in God intellectually but living as though He's not present, not active, not involved.
Don't settle for that.
God invites you into fullness—a life lived in constant awareness of His presence, in communion with the Trinity, surrounded by angelic ministry.
James 4:8 promises: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."
The more you pursue Him, the more you'll experience Him.
Reflection Questions:
Do you live with an awareness of God's presence throughout the day, or do you only think about Him during "religious" activities?
Have you ever sensed angelic presence? What was that experience like?
Read 1 John 4:1. How do you test whether a thought or impression is from God or from another source?
What would it look like for you to "practice the presence of God" in your daily routine?
Are you more drawn to spiritual experiences or to the God who gives them? How can you keep the focus on God?
Prayer:
Lord, I want to live in constant awareness of Your presence. Open the eyes of my heart to see the spiritual realities around me. Help me to recognize Your voice and to discern between Your leading and other influences. Thank You for the angels You've assigned to minister to me. Help me to live in the fullness of what You've made available through Christ—not for dramatic experiences, but for deeper intimacy with You. Draw me closer. Let me dwell in Your presence all the days of my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.
