A monthly column in which Jenni Pretorius Hill shares stories of hope which bring Heaven’s perspective to Earth
Late one night a young woman walked through a deserted parking lot. Before she reached her car, a gang of men came out of the shadows and encircled her. There was no chance of escape and little hope that they would leave her unharmed; she sensed their intent to rape her. What she didn’t know was that her sister had raised a prayer-watch, and at that very moment another young woman, on the other side of the world, had woken up to pray for her.
One of my hopes for Heaven is an opportunity to watch all the moments in my life where God intervened without my knowledge. I’m certain that, for all of us, He has moved behind the scenes to manipulate circumstances and mobilise Heaven on our behalf. Perhaps we’ll get to watch – big-screen style – a playback of the unseen dramas; and all those delays, disappointments, and “unanswered” prayers will take on a whole new light. But sometimes God allows us a glimpse into His redemptive participation in the affairs of man. The story of the girl in the car park was one such moment for me. But to make sense of it, I’ll have to offer you a little bit of background.
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Several years ago a friend of ours was a missionary to the Congo. She rescued child soldiers and little girls trafficked for sex, and occasionally she would travel deep into bush territory to minister to warlords. These trips required special prayer cover as her team never knew what kind of reception they would receive or whether they would stumble into killing fields. I was one of the people Kim notified before she went off the grid, and I would set my heart to pray for her. It was during one of these prayer times that I saw an angel. He was a big, very black fellow in what I recall as light-coloured, loose clothing: a shirt and trousers. I told Kim to be on the lookout for him, and not to be afraid, since he was an angel assigned to her. I soon forgot about my encounter.
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Months later, in a frenzy of excitement, she contacted me to tell me the angel had shown up in a rescue scenario on the other side of the world – the United States! At the time Kim had been praying for the sister of a fellow missionary. This sister, who lived in the States, was in some kind of trouble and Kim was partnering with her friend to intercede for her. On the night the woman was accosted by the gang of men in the parking lot, Kim had woken up with a particular urgency to pray.
Just as the men moved in to attack her, a big black man stepped out of the darkness. He wore a pale shirt and trousers. His presence was so intimidating, and so startling, that the men slunk back as he approached the woman and told her he would see her safely to her car. Once inside and engine running, she looked around to thank him. He had vanished. She put-foot and sped away.
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The angel assigned to Kim had been dispatched by her as she prayed for her friend’s sister. I am so grateful for my cameo role in this story; by showing me the angel, both Kim and I began to understand the power available to us when we pray. God allowed us insight into the invisible realm, which we mobilise through intercession. The Bible tells us that angels are sent to assist us, the saints. Do you understand that when you pray in the authority of a son or daughter of the King, according to the will of God, you operate as a general in the field of battle? Angels respond to the prayers of the saints! They are dispatched to intervene, rescue and war on our behalf.
2 Kings 6 tells of Elisha as he prays for his servant to see Heaven’s chariots of fire that surrounded those who were surrounding them. He comforts his fearful servant with the words “don’t be afraid; those who are for us are more than those who are against us.”
Just because you feel alone doesn’t mean you are. Ask Him to open your eyes, as He did for Elisha’s servant, to discern the magnificent defense of Heaven that He has assigned for your protection and prosperity!
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