Angels: Guardians of Joy
Guardians of What?
They tell me they are “guardians of my laughter“ and “protectors of my peace”.
So that’s kind of their thing. My angels are just like my husband in that they love to hear me laugh. Pojes, Shobis and Leo all go out of their way to elicit a smile or laugh from me, just because they want to see me happy and peaceful and in that good place.
I realized that laughter is actually a swipe at the enemy. Because if satan’s strategy is coming to steal our peace, kill our joy and bring destruction to us spirit, soul and body – wouldn’t our laughter be the simplest way to express his total failure in all of those areas?
That is one reason why holy laughter has been such a distinctive element of revival.
Peacekeepers
I was excited then when I found Bill Johnson shared a similar idea in his book Hosting the Presence and took it as confirmation that this was a God thought.
He said: “It’s important to note that violence in the spiritual realm is always a peace-filled moment for His people. That’s how the Prince of Peace can crush satan under our feet (Rom. 16:20). Another way to put it is every peace-filled moment you experience brings terror to the powers of darkness. Only in the Kingdom of God is peace a military tool.”
Yes! That’s exactly what the Lord had been teaching me. But honestly, I still needed to have a talk with Jesus about these angels He’d assigned to me.
“God, they’re really awesome and everything and I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but they are just so into my feelings (of all things!). Guardians of my joy. Seriously? There has got to be a lot more important things for all of us to be concerned with. I mean, isn’t there a spiritual war going on? Where are these guys on that anyway?”
Jesus Laughed
Jesus just laughed, obviously amused, and assured me that my angels were obeying Him perfectly and accomplishing the mission He’d given them precisely. He then went on to show me how all throughout the New Testament, Kingdom Emotion was a decidedly big player.
Well, I already knew about the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace). But then He also reminded me about the “abiding realities”: faith, hope and love. First Corinthians 13 explains how we’d better have the fruit of the Spirit in our lives or else the gifts won’t flow. Spiritual gifts (ie, miracles and prophecy) are to demonstrate the spiritual fruit of God’s feelings – His patience, kindness and compassion towards us.
What really clinched it for me was when He brought Romans 14:17 onto my radar. Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost are actually the very kingdom of God. I’m not sure He could put a higher premium on them than that. And if that wasn’t enough, Holy Spirit then showed me how all this Kingdom Emotion actually even plays a part in our spiritual warfare.
What Kind of Armor?
After I finally got a revelation of what He was saying. First there’s the idea that it’s “just” wrong feelings like anger (Eph. 4:26,27) and unforgiveness that actually give place to the devil in our lives (2 Cor. 2:10,11).
And then the realization of what the armor for our spiritual battles against the enemy even is: A breastplate of faith and love and a helmet of hope (1 Thess. 5:8). Not to mention feet shod in peace (Eph. 6:15). From head to toe we’re dressed in holy God Emotion and that is what protects and guards us.
So as I said, I was incredibly blessed then later when I found that quote about peace-filled moments bringing terror to the enemy. Because what is the best outward expression of peace? Laughter sure works for me, which is exactly what my angels had been trying to tell me all along.
If personal revelation, Scripture and Bill Johnson agree? I must be on the right track!
Photo credits
“Warship at Sunset” image courtesy of bern161616 / RGBStock.com
“Red Shoes with Heart” image courtesy of Natara / FreeDigitalPhotos.net