I awoke today with angels on my heart. Angels are all around us, desiring to protect us and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to reveal to us all that we are — and that we can be — in Christ.

These past several months, I have been searching more deeply again for answers about angels. This recent search has been inspired by a book I received — Where Angels Walk: True Stories of Heavenly Visitors, by New York Times Bestselling Author Joan Wester Anderson.1

Joan began writing in the early 1970s, as a way to generate additional income for her family. In 1992, after her children had completed college and moved away, she decided to write one last book to thank God for an amazing miracle one of her sons had experienced. It is purported that Joan was feeling it was time for her to make a change as well — perhaps it was time to return to college and think about a new career of her own. But first, she would write this next book.

The book that Joan wrote was Where Angels Walk. The book was a success, and she continued on to write many more books about angels, establishing herself as a respected authority on the presence of angels in our lives. Joan passed away on March 1, 2023, at the age of 84.

Joan’s book connected her with people who had experienced moving encounters with these beautiful and powerful creatures. Her book begins with a description of her early investigation into angels. Here is an excerpt:

“Angels are mentioned more than three hundred times in Sacred Scripture … My investigations revealed that, whatever their beginnings, angels have three basic purposes: to worship God, to serve as heralds between God and His people on earth, and to act as our caretakers, while never interfering with our free will. Saint Dionysius, Saint Paul, Pope Gregory, and others further divide angels into nine choirs, listed here in descending order, along with their main duties: Seraphim and Cherubim, who love and worship God; Thrones and Dominions, who regulate angelic duties; Virtues, who work miracles on earth; Powers, who protect us from demons; Principalities, Archangels and Angels, who are ministers and guardians of people. The four Archangels best known to us are Raphael, Michael, Gabriel, and Uriel. Their numbers seem to be infinite, though, and throughout history, others have also been named. One of the oldest shrines in Turkey is dedicated to Michael, who is considered a great healer to the sick in that nation.”2

Have you encountered an angel in your life? I think we all encounter angels regularly. Whether or not we are open to what they are trying to show us is another matter entirely. As Joan indicates, angels, like God, will never interfere with our free will. We must decide whether or not we respond to those things that the angels — and the Holy Spirit — place on our hearts and in our minds.

Angels remind us that our most important struggles on earth are not with physical things — our struggles are not with flesh and blood. Our most important struggles are with those things that play out within the spiritual realm. Yes, we are flesh and blood, as humans. But Jesus, through His immense Mercy and Love, offers each of us the chance to be born again, of water and the Spirit.

Here’s what Jesus told Nicodemus about the importance and power of being born again in the Spirit. Nicodemus was an important member of the religious ruling class who came to Jesus late one night, with questions about the miracles that Jesus was performing. How was Jesus performing these miracles? Was Jesus in fact the Son of God? Nicodemus was carrying around some heavy burdens, given his prestigious role in the community. Jesus was not making things any easier for him. People had lots of questions about Jesus. Nicodemus was struggling to provide answers. He must have felt incredibly anxious about remaining in control of the growing curiosities and uncertainties about Jesus. Who was Jesus?

But Jesus saw through Nicodemus’ title and role and fears — and straight into his heart. Jesus knew that Nicodemus was trying to move forward solely on the physical plane. Nicodemus was not understanding that the real battle — and the real power — lies within the spiritual realm. Here’s an excerpt of what Jesus said to Nicodemus:

Jesus answered, “‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit. You should not be surprised at My saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3: 5-8

If we’re not careful, our physical lives with all its distractions and responsibilities can get in the way of our spiritual lives. It matters that we make time to cultivate our spiritual lives. It is the spiritual life, centered on our relationship with God, that enables us to make a new start in building an eternal life. It is our spiritual life that enables us to make good decisions and to navigate even the most difficult of days with joy and peace.

The angels moving all around us are sent by God as messengers, calling all of us to be born again of the Spirit. The angels are calling all each one of us to put on the “spiritual armor” of God, so that we may move beyond any physical difficulties and into the spiritual life and love that God plans for all of us.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6: 12-13

St. Paul also reminds us that we are body, spirit and soul —

“May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 23-24

In my next post, I will share a story of an encounter I had with my guardian angel. I did not immediately recognize him, but I have searched for his face over and again, ever since that first encounter twenty years ago. I know that he is by my side even now, as I write this post.

1Joan Wester Anderson, Where Angels Walk: True Stories of Heavenly Visitors (New York: Ballantine Books, 1993).

2Ibid, 8-10.