Hey everybody, I’m Anne-Marie Michaelis, a Christian author and coach. Welcome to the Hidden Battles Podcast, a weekly podcast about the hidden battles of spiritual warfare and the struggles that go on in our minds and hearts, and the truth to overcoming these hidden battles. My life was radically transformed during a supernatural encounter with Jesus.

God allowed my eyes to be spiritually opened long enough to see the truth of these hidden battles and to scare the rebellion against him right out of me. In each episode, I share a true story about a real life experience, a teaching, and a final takeaway. This podcast will reveal the hidden battles that lurk in our minds and hearts, and the way out.

Hidden Battles, revealing what the enemy does not want you to know. Please take a moment to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and subscribe to my channel on YouTube, at GodDesign LLC. Podcasts are available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

For a free download of my memoir, visit my website at goddesign.org.

Today in this episode called “Coincidence or Angelic Intervention”, I’ll share a strange encounter from my memoir in which, some have said “You do know that was an angel” and honestly at the time I had thought long and hard about where the man came from, why he looked the way he did, how he looked so clean out in the sandy trail, and what the heck he was doing at that time of night in the middle of the woods.  So, what is this story and who was this strange man?  Well let me tell you what happened!

This podcast is called “Coincidence or Angelic Intervention”, but the story from my memoir is titled “The Never Ending Run In The Woods – Helped By A Silver Haired Man”.

I am sharing this as a reminder to anyone tired, who wants to give up, or who thinks they are at the end of their rope. Don’t give up. Have hope. You don’t know who or what is around the corner that may be able to help. Keep a strong faith that all is well as you keep plugging along because sometimes that is all we can do, and that is enough.

I was up north in Michigan. Anyone  that knows what up north is like would know that it is quite woodsy. There are many acres of open woods and state land the further up you go in Michigan. So I was up north near the top of the lower Michigan peninsula. I would typically go across the road to twenty square miles of state land and trails to go for my run. For this particular run, I didn’t get an early start and ended up going across the road later in the day.

Well, I am really, really bad with directions. I was lost once in the woods when I was around ten or eleven. I had to crawl under pine trees, following a dog to get to the main road. This time I had no dog with me to follow!

Normally, I would hear my Dad’s voice reminding me right, right, and then left. Or something like that with the trails. I usually kept it straight and came back to the road and then back across to the house successfully. This day, I didn’t do a right at the correct trail but instead went the opposite, which took me deep into the woods.

I realized after a while that I could not hear the road anymore. Actually, I had not heard the road for quite some time. I was lost. I had my cell phone with me, but it was starting to get very low on battery. Luckily, I did have a signal. I texted my Mom that I was lost and needed to turn the phone off for a bit to avoid it dying on me. It was four to five hours into this run on a super sandy trail. My knees and ankles were hurting from the running, and the sky was on the verge of turning to dusk.

I was starting to panic because I knew there were quite a few bears around the area; my running was taking me further into the woods, my cell phone was nearly dead, and darkness was closing in. Then, an old man came out of nowhere, walking towards me in the middle of the trail. He looked really out of place on that sandy trail. He wore a fancy, light-colored jogging suit with clean white tennis shoes. He had silver-white hair with light-colored eyes. He asked if I was lost, and I told him yes. I explained where I was trying to go. He said he knew where I needed to go and would walk me to the main trail. From there, I should be able to recognize where I am and make it back safely. He walked me to that trail, and I made it back.

People (or angels) can come into your life when you least expect it and give a helping hand. I was not expected to run into anyone just before dusk and that far out into the woods. No way. But I did, and I made it back safely before dark.

What does God’s Word say?

Remember at the beginning of my story when I said to those that are getting tired or growing weary to keep going, don’t lose hope, and never give up?  Well, what I didn’t include in this story is the depth of the panic that I was starting to experience.  I mentioned that there were bears in the area, and I didn’t elaborate on this, but the reason why this was a hot spot for bears was because of the garbage dump right off the trail.  It was a spot were if you wanted to see a bunch of bears, you would go park with your vehicle facing the dump pile, and wait for dark.  Once dark you would flip your lights on and there you would see a bunch of hungry bear.  That was the main trail that I needed to get back to and go down to get home.  I definitely didn’t want to be traversing the trail come dusk. 

Why am I bringing this up?  Well, this story took place well before I surrendered to Jesus.  So it’s important to note that even in the midst of my stubbornness towards God, He made a way for me to be safely brought out of the woods.  Was it a strange anomaly of a man in the middle of nowhere before dusk, or was it one of God’s angels, I won’t know till I get to the other side!  But I do remember wanting to sit down for a few minutes because having ran for hours non-stop in the thick sand, my ankles and knees were aching pretty badly.  But something in me said keep running. 

• Luke 18:1 (NIV) Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Well I was too stubborn to pray at this point in my life, but definitely didn’t give up.  God showed me grace and mercy still in the midst of my stubborn rebellious attitude.  Why? Because God’s grace and mercy are a blessing that most of us don’t realize and defiantly take for granted. 

Isaiah 41:10 (AMP) ’Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’

When I look back over so many of these stories, I can honestly say that God was there, and in this story, because I don’t know where this man came from on the trail out of nowhere.  So many stories where God was there because “such and such” and I’m sure you’ll here me say that when I share other odd stories.

What does God’s Word say about angels?  It gives us quite a bit of information about angels.  Much of which I will share in another episode that was very specifically about two angels that I did see just before my Dad passed.  For this story, I’ll share with you first what “angel” in Hebrew means.  The word “angel” that we use actually means “messenger” so “messenger” is actually a job description of a “celestial being” basically to intermediate between God and humans messages and other orders from God.  Not all celestial beings are described as “messengers” solely.  In addition to messenger, some celestial beings are warriors engaged in spiritual battles – archangel Michael is often associated with this role.  There are worshippers, which continuously worship and praise God.  There are protectors which guard.  There are guides which lead. 

In this episode I won’t get into how these different celestial beings are described in God’s Word but let’s just say that those that believe in “aliens” –  I challenge you to get into God’s Word and learn about celestial beings and all the other creations that are described as created by God. If you’re stuck on “aliens” for some reason, shift your focus to God’s Word and look into what God shares with you about the different celestial beings, the nephilim, the giants, the behemoth, and the leviathan.  Then once you’ve had your fill of that, shift your attention to the almighty creator of the entire universe and everything you see and don’t see.  Because there is no alternate civilization created by the universe.  The universe is not an intelligent being, and does not possess consciousness or intentionality.  Let your eyes be opened by what God shares for those that have eyes to see and ears to hear.  Because that is where the eternal blessings will come from- your heavenly Father and Jesus. 

I’ll share with you just a few scripture on angels, that is more particular to this story. 

• Acts 8:26 (NIV) Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

• Psalm 91:11 (NIV) For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

We know that some (if not all) celestial beings have the ability to appear in human form.  Which makes me wonder if fallen angels (demons) also possess that ability or if that was stripped from them when they were exiled from heaven to the earth. In my mind it would make more sense to enter a human and control them from the inside out.  Creating internal havoc clearly unnoticed by most people.  Self-destruction that goes unnoticed for the most part.  Something to think about when you’re experiencing a hidden battle in your mind or heart – right?

• Hebrews 13:2 (NLT) Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

• 2 Corinthians 11:!4 (AMP) And no wonder, since Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

• Hebrews 1:14 (AMP) Are not all the angels ministering spirits sent out [by God] to serve (accompany, protect) those who will inherit salvation? [Of course they are!]

Now for reflections.

What evidence do we have to support that we may have our very own guardian angel?

• Matthew 18:10 (AMP) “See that you do not despise or think less of one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven [are in the presence of and] continually look upon the face of My Father who is in heaven.

Think about a time when you thought to yourself – WOW I was really lucky (perhaps an incident in your vehicle, an accident that you were able to walk away from, a sickness or physical battle that you have survived, an attack that could have happened or did but was stopped, or something else).  I ask you to ask yourself … was God there?  Did you have heavenly intervention?  If you’re time here is not yet, God may send intervention or possibly you have your very own guardian angel (ministering spirit) sent by God just for you. Don’t underestimate the heavenly presence of God’s just because you cannot see Him.  You cannot see the air or wind – yet it exists. You cannot see an atom – but it exists.  Think about how many people experience God and testify to an experience or encounter with Him.  Are you ready to encounter God?

If you’re ready to surrender to Christ, let’s pray a prayer of salvation and begin your commitment to walk with Jesus and accept Him into your mind, heart, and every facet of your life!  Pray this prayer with me with all your mind and heart.

Heavenly Father, I come to you as a sinner in need of Your grace. I repent of my sins and confess openly with my lips that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I believe in my heart that He died and rose from the grave for my sins. Lord Jesus, I invite you into my life and ask for the Holy Spirit to dwell in my heart; to be my teacher, counselor, comforter, and helper in all areas of my life. May Your will be done in my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.   

If you prayed this prayer of salvation, this is the first step and a very important and good step in beginning your walk with Jesus.  Relationships take effort and communication, keep the communication channel open with Jesus so you can start building your relationship and hear what He has in store for you. 

I wish blessings and revelation to each of you as you grow closer in your relationship with Jesus!

Hey, friends, that wraps up today’s Hidden Battles Podcast. A transcript along with additional devotionals for this week’s podcast, as well as my memoir, are available for free download on my website at goddesign.org, or check out some of my other books that you may find helpful. If you liked this episode, please share with others.

Hidden Battles, revealing what the enemy does not want you to know. Never stop praying, never give up, and I’ll see you next week.