My husband and I have been receiving the Guideposts publication, ever since we were married (17 years this year!) from his Mom as a gift subscription. She keeps renewing it, year after year, and I love reading it! It is full of inspirational stories filled with hope.
My most favorite part to read first is the story in the Mysterious Ways: More Than Coincidence section. Here are stories submitted by someone who has had a “guardian angel” or what I call – a “Godwink” moment. These moments can only be God watching over us and taking care of us in our times of need.
I have had many Godwink moments in my life – too many to recount in this devotional – but this I will say. Each time, I recognized the gift of that moment was the Holy Spirit watching over me, saving me, sustaining me, lifting me up or leading me in a different direction. He is always there to help and He “…will never leave me nor forsake me” (Hebrews 13:5).
Taken from February 2021 issue by Arlene Malanga Ocean, NJ
There was a touch on my shoulder. A gentle tap. I blinked awake in the darkness of my bedroom. The clock read 2:55 AM. Way to early to be up.
“What is it?” I asked my husband. He was sound asleep. Like I should be. I rolled back onto my pillow.
I’d just started to drift off when I felt it – another tap. Not so gentle.
I shook my husband, frustrated. Finally he opened his eyes and looked at me blearily. “You tapped my shoulder,” I said. “What’s wrong?” He mumbled something, then flopped over. He was snoring within seconds.
Maybe I’d just had a vivid dream. I lay back down and closed my eyes.
This time it was less like a tap on the shoulder and more like a poke. The feeling that came with it was just as insistent: Go to the basement.
At three in the morning? Why? The basement was unfinished, with bare cement floors. The only things down there were the washer and dryer.
The feeling persisted. Go to the basement. I swung my legs over the side of the bed. Fine!
I peeked in our daughters’ rooms. Both were sleeping. I opened the basement door and clicked on the light. What was I even looking for? I headed down the stairs.
Thump, thump, thump.
The dryer! I rushed over to turn it off and opened the door. Inside was a pair of my husband’s work pants. I reached for them – then pulled back my hand with a gasp. They were burning hot!!! How long had the dryer been running?
I found out later that morning. My husband had spilled coffee on his uniform pants the day before. He’d washed them and thrown them in the dryer just before going to bed. But the dryer malfunctioned and hadn’t turned off automatically. It had been overheating for hours.
If I hadn’t gone down there when I did, a fire could have easily started.
“Lucky break,” my husband said.
I knew it was more than that.
RW: Another rescue by our awesome and loving Holy Spirit who never sleeps!! We all need to pay attention to those taps or pokes in our lives that point us in a different direction. We never know when we need saving.
Blessings to you this day!
Prayer:
Thank you Father for providing me with a Helper who is always watching over me. Thank you for loving me so much to care what happens during my day – even down to the smallest cares such as looking for a lost item. You never cease to amaze me with your generous loving Spirit. Help me to pay attention to the signs when you are guiding me. In Jesus protecting name – Amen.