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Locked in Battle
The angel sat poised ready to act, with outstretched wings glittering like a pool of crushed diamonds. He hovered over his charge, waiting for her to draw near to the One who could help her.
Emily sat in the car, eyes fixed on the dazzling casino entrance, with it’s flashing orbs and black doors leading into the abyss of greed. Her mental focus was locked on the internal battle raging inside of her. She sat in this very spot, many times before, the battle always under the surface of her heart. Emily knew it was wrong to go in, yet again, but maybe she could recoup what she lost last time and all the times before. I know I can do it, she thought.
He watched her from above, the expression on her face growing excited at the possibility of more. Her addiction was insatiable. The angel dropped his glorious wings to his side with sadness. He grieved humans who didn’t use the power of prayer during times of internal war. They think they can handle things on their own volition. Oh, if they only knew how His holy protection would cover them, if they would only ask.
Her decision made, Emily stepped out of the car in the heat of midday. A glance at her watch revealed she had forty-five minutes before returning to her interior design shop. As a well-respected designer, Emily had many clients who waited weeks to work with her. She laid out a plan of action in her mind. A couple of slots on the way to the Black Jack table, followed by a few rounds of Roulette should get her back in time for her next appointment.
The black doors parted with a vacuum-like sound, sucking her into the dark, smoky, loud void. The angel was now inside watching her. He wondered how a place with so much activity could feel so empty. Emily didn’t stop to sit as she plunked ten quarters, one right after another, into a flashing slot machine. Nothing. As she continued on to the Black Jack table, unholy human eyes focused like laser beams on her saunter.
The waitress took her order for a glass of white wine, while the dealer exchanged her money for tokens. Emily figured the large sums would win her more money and get her to the appointment on time. After three rounds, two free drinks and a loss of $500, she was off to bet on red at the Roulette wheel.
Emily’s determination started to wane after the ball landed on black. The guilt was rising as it did every time she came here. She always thought she could win back her money, but the false hope wasn’t enough.
The angel outstretched his wings again as her thoughts shifted from her own strength to emptiness. If she would only pray, he could place a thought in her mind and God would open her heart to receive it. The angel knew Emily grew up learning the Gospel. He knew she had everything in her heart to draw near, but she had to make the choice. The angel could do nothing until Emily asked the Lord for the key to unlock her turmoil.
Now, she was running late, a little tipsy and down $1200. It was a losing day, at only one-o’clock in the afternoon. Emily exited the glitzy establishment walking quickly to her car. She sank in the driver’s seat and slammed the door, tears sliding down her flushed cheeks. When will this end, Dear Lord? She said aloud.
At that precise moment, the angel forcefully struck the dark forces surrounding her with his powerful wings.
Emily was shaken at the sound of the Lord’s name on her lips. She spent so much time pushing Him away. How could He love her through this?
He does! The thought came from the newly named angel, Michael. He received his orders directly from Heaven. Emily was now Michael’s permanent charge and it was his job to let Emily know how much the Lord loved her.
Emily’s heart was opened, and she received the blessing of knowing the Lord’s unfailing love. Emily didn’t know the young angel guarding her was named because she acknowledged the Lord, and Michael was made more powerful to act in her favor.
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