Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. Keep me safe all through the night and wake me with the morning light. Amen.
The mother pressed a kiss against the soft cheek and turned out the light, leaving the room with one final glance at her drowsy toddler.
As the little one softly breathed in and out, in and out, succumbing to the need for rest, a restless stirring began in the deepest, darkest corner of the room.
Before long it emerged, ugly and dark, crouching along the floor toward the bed with nothing but sinister intent. Evil oozed from every depraved pore, leaving a sticky wake of destruction.
It reached the bed, already exulting in the pure malevolence of taking this innocent life before it reached it’s scaly hands to grab the child by the throat.
Light prevented it. The monster cried out in protest as the aura of illumination grabbed its hands and pulled it back with effortless control.
“You can’t stop me!” the monster wheezed with a triumphant laugh. “You aren’t any more powerful than I. You and me? We’re the same. You won’t stop me.”
The man made of light did not speak. Evil cursed and threw the holy warrior against the wall.
They wrestled for quite some time until suddenly there were footsteps in the hall. A mother peaked back into the room, her face unsettled. She stared around the dark space, seeing nothing, but sensing everything. Quickly she fell on her knees next to the bed, and began to pray.
Evil shrunk back, knowing its power was being sucked away with each effective word the woman spoke to the Creator. It sighed, knowing that now the angelic being of goodness was the least of its problems.
There He was again. Always showing up just when those disgusting little humans started talking that way. Never once did He neglect a sincere appeal from a member of His family. Never once had Evil gotten anywhere once his presence was in the room. In the house. In the neighborhood.
And so Evil slunk back, and shuffled away into nothingness.
The angel smiled, and went back to his post at the end of the child’s bed.
And He went to her. Knelt beside her. Comforted her. Gave her peace.
“It’s safe now. I’m here.”
With a smile, she kissed her little one once more and stood to leave.
“Thank you.” She whispered into the darkness.
And He smiled.
This sort of reminds me of what would happen if Carman sang a Frank Peretti story :)
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of the pictures of the parent praying over their child in the bed, and in the window is an angel fighting off darkness. I LOVE those pictures...
ReplyDeleteWhat power we possess in prayer to our Father!
Gwen - ha - it does.
ReplyDeleteAmy, so true!
Does God require prayer to protect a child?
ReplyDelete-D.
Anon, do you mean what would have happened if the mom hadn't prayed?
ReplyDeleteFlash FICTION. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God will not protect children if they are not prayed for. This is based on Scripture that talks about the spiritual warfare going on around us that we (as true believers) can play a part in by listening to the Spirit.
ReplyDeleteEphesians 6?
ReplyDeleteThis is an honest question. In the bible we are told Jesus hates people because of their actions (i.e. He hates the person, not the sin; see Hosea 9). In Ezekial, Jesus orders the murder of small children. In Leviticus, Jesus says he will send animals to kill to children for the sins of their parents. Jesus issues a commandment in Leviticus to kill your own child if they curse their parent. I am not trolling. I presume you are a thoughtful christian. But your (perceived by me) testy response about how your chosen theology works regarding prayer and the deaths of children made these verses really come into my mind.
ReplyDeleteAs a thoughtful christian, do you have a ready apologetic, or better, a thoughtful critically-reasoned response to Jesus's actions in the old testament regarding his mostly wrathful actions toward children, and your assertion that Jesus protects children. Regards.
-D.