July #jammed: Grace serves.

187: Angels hang around here.

“Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love.” Joel 2:13 (NIV)

“Hello, how can I help you?” a voice with a Southern draw answered cheerfully.

That’s odd. Normally the people that answer the phone for big American companies don’t speak very good English, but this wouldn’t be the only remarkable thing I would remember about this phone call to my insurance company that day.

In search of what my insurance covered, I was shocked to find out that marriage counseling wasn’t covered. For some reason, this operator and I had struck up a conversation while she was checking policies and regulations, and I shared with her my search for Christian counseling, specifically.

What she said shocked me to the core, as I accepted her encouragement on placing God first in our marriage. She wished me blessings, and might have even offered to pray for us.  …I felt that weird tingly feeling and eyes looking straight down on me.

Huh, I remember thinking, an angel answering the phone for insurance companies. Nice trick.

There’s no doubt in my mind. In the place where my heart was in those moments, only the  Author of it could have reached in and spoke directly to it in love and encouragement.

“Rip the wickedness out of your hearts…” Joel 2:13 (VOICE)

I love this translation of the first part of Joel’s verse. There is so much wickedness that attempts to attack our mental and relational well being. Sometimes, we have to rip it off like a band aid.

When we rip it off, what do we do with it?

Give it to Him, whose shoulders were built to bear it, crush it, and defeat it. And then replace it …with Truth. Time in the Word and in prayer …time in Christian counseling letting God heal us through those He calls. While we chase after Him, He holds us together. On occasion, with angels.

Father, Praise You for angels. Thank You for that day and that phone call. Thank You for helping us when we need You. Forgive us for thinking it’s up to us to fight …and help us to leave life in Your arms as our hearts become more like His. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace! 

#greatgrace17

Happy Holding on …to Him,

Megs

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