Last week, during my husband's week off work, we went to visit the zoo. We stayed there all day. All the animals we saw were unusually responsive - they would approach, make eye contact, and talk back to us. It made me wonder if God's presence was with us. We rested under a huge tree between 3-4 pm, praising God for His wonderful creations - all the different sizes, shapes, colours, and patterns He had used to make these animals so beautiful. And then, we went home.

The next day, we noticed a police van parked outside our house and a policeman posting a letter into our mailbox. My husband ran out to see what was going on. It appeared that there had been two burglaries in our street - to the neighbours on either side of us!!! The burglary happened between 3-4 pm while we were at the zoo. Money, passports, and valuable items had been taken. We were really shocked! The place where we live had always been a safe place. It is even very common for people to leave their doors and cars open and unlocked, with no problems.

But what shocked us more was that the thieves had not burgled our house. We were spared, we were safe! Then I realised that at the time the burglary happened, we were praising God in the zoo under a tree. I had been feeling the presence of God with us all day at the zoo, but it was now evident that God was also present at our house whilst it was empty! We checked every part of the house, shed, garden, etc. - nothing was out of place, everything was just as they should be.

Something must have made the burglars decide to spare our house. I recall my daily bedtime prayer, always asking God to send His holy angels to encamp around our house. Could it be that the angels were there, deterring the burglars? Did the burglars see someone in our house, in our garden, in our driveway that they should choose to leave our house alone? Oh, how I wish I could ask the burglars these questions!

We immediately thanked God for His protection through His angels; I couldn't help, but learn one important lesson that we shall never praise God in vain!

Therefore, do not be weary in praising God, wherever we are, whatever we are doing. Not only because there is always a reason to praise God, but that there is also the power and the ripple effect of doing so (which we may or may not ever know). Praise be to God!

Psalm 34:7

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

Psalm 91:9

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

© Elma Larsen. All rights reserved.