7 Biblical Reasons to Pray to Angels
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7 Biblical Reasons to pray to Angels
Intercession: Angels intercede on behalf of individuals, bringing their prayers before God. There are numerous examples in the Bible where angels intercede, answer prayers, and provide direction. (Isaias 37: 15-20, 36-)
Guidance: Angels offer guidance and direction. Praying to them can help individuals seek wisdom and clarity in their decisions and life choices, aligning their actions with God’s will. (2 Kings 1:3, Judges 6:12-13)
Protection: Angels provide protection from harm and evil. We pray to angels, especially our guardian angel, to seek safety and spiritual protection in our daily lives. (Isaias 37: 15-20, 36-, Matthew 18:10)
Comfort and Support: During times of distress or difficulty, angels are a source of comfort and reassurance. Prayers to angels can help individuals feel supported and less alone in their struggles. (Judges 6:12-13)
Inspiration and Strength: Praying to angels can help individuals find the strength and inspiration to face challenges. Angels are seen as sources of encouragement and can help bolster one’s faith and resolve. (Numbers 22:32-33, Acts 8:26, 27-39)
Gratitude and Praise: We pray to angels to express gratitude for their role in our lives and to praise God for the gifts of angelic assistance. (Matthew 18:10, Daniel 10:21; 12:1)
Spiritual Growth: Engaging with angels in prayer especially our Guardian angel, can aid in spiritual growth and development. By focusing on angelic virtues, Catholics can be inspired to live more virtuously and grow closer to God. (Matthew 18:10, Daniel 10:21; 12:1)
There are many instances in the Bible where God uses His angels to deliver messages, give out instructions and deliver His justice as an answer to prayers.
1 Chronicles 21:18 (1 Paralipomenon 21:18 in the Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible)- “Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David…” (4 Kings 1:3 in the Douay-Rheims)- “And an angel of the Lord spoke to Elias… saying arise, go up to meet the messengers… and say unto them…” Acts 8:26- “And the angel of the Lord spoke unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south…
We often see God answering prayers by sending His angels.
Numbers 20:16- “And when we cried unto the Lord, he heard our voice, and sent an angel…” Isaias 37: 15-20, 36- “And Ezechias prayed to the Lord, saying… And now, O Lord our God, save us out of his hand… And the angel of the Lord went out, and slew in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty-five thousand.”
Angels are asked for answers and assistance in spiritual and temporal needs.
Judges 6:12-13The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said: The Lord is with thee, O most valiant of men. And Gedeon said to him: I beseech thee, my lord, if the Lord be with us, why have these evils fallen upon us?”
In this passage we see Gedeon asking the angel why evils have fallen upon them.
In the following passage we see that Jacob makes supplication to the angel. Supplication means to ask, or request. It's a prayer – to pray means to ask. Some versions translate the passage as Jacob begged the angel. Again, begging means to pray or ask earnestly.
Osee or Hosea 12:3-4- “Yea, he [Jacob] had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him:”
In the Old Testament, Lot makes a request to two angels sent by God to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:13):
Genesis 19:20 (RSV): “Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a small one. Let me escape there, and my life will be spared!”
One of the angels responds to his request (Genesis 19:21): “Behold, I grant you this favor as well: I will not overthrow the city you have mentioned.”
In the following passage we see that God sends angels to guard, and to be listened to and followed.
Exodus 23:20-22 “Behold, I send an angel before you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place which I have prepared. [21] Give heed to him and hearken to his voice, do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression for my name is in him. [22] But if you hearken attentively to his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. [23] When "my angel goes before you, . . .”
We also see angels talking to us from heaven,“the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven” (Gen 21:17)
In Matthew 18:10, Jesus states, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.” This passage highlights the significance of guardian angels, as Christ affirms that each person has an angel who intercedes for them before God’s Heavenly Throne.
By referring to these angels as “their angels,” Jesus emphasizes their personal role in our lives.
Moreover, guardian angels are not only assigned to individuals but also to nations.
Revelation 1:20 reveals that each church has its own angel. God employs these angels as intermediaries between Himself and humanity. For instance, an angel is sent to communicate with John and inspire him to write Revelation (Rev. 1:1). This same angel then delivers messages to the angels of each church (Rev. 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14). Additionally, nations are assigned guardian angels, as seen with Israel (Daniel 10:21; 12:1).
We can see here that guardian angels have a direct role in our lives, actively involved in praying for us and guiding us.
Angels carry our prayers to God.
Angels not only pray for us but also carry our prayers to God. In Tobit 12:15, the Archangel Raphael states, “I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One.” “Then
I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were
given to them. And another angel came and stood at the altar with a
golden censer; and he was given much incense to mix with the prayers
of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne; and the
smoke of the incense, along with the prayers of the saints, rose from
the angel’s hand before God.”
Revelation
does not specify whether these prayers are from saints in heaven, on
earth, or both. However, it doesn't matter because it's clear that
these seven angels, along with an additional angel who tends the
altar, are involved in presenting the prayers to God.
We see that angels are deeply involved in both praying for us and carrying our prayers to God. Prayers to God are mediated by angels. This is a significant point to note as it's often wrongly interpreted that Jesus is the only mediator.
Angels assist us.
Angels assist us in numerous ways beyond what we might typically consider. Hebrews 1:14 describes angels as “ministering spirits sent forth to serve for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation.” Their ministry addresses both our physical and spiritual needs on our journey toward salvation.
For instance, Psalm 34:7 states, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and delivers them.”
This protection can manifest as physical safety, such as in battles (2 Chronicles 32:21). Angels also provide nourishment and support; for example, an angel brought food and drink to Elijah when he was despondent and ready to give up (1 Kings 19:5-8). Beyond physical protection, angels also offer spiritual assistance. When Balaam intended to curse Israel, an angel intervened to stop him, first invisibly and then visibly (Numbers 22:32-33).
Angelic ministry can also guide us in practical ways. For example, an angel directed the Apostle Philip to go to a specific road, leading him to encounter and guide the Ethiopian eunuch to salvation (Acts 8:26, 27-39).
Moreover, angels frequently convey God’s will to us. They often act as messengers of divine plans and answers to prayers. For example, an angel responded to Hagar and Ishmael’s prayers (Genesis 16:1-10; 21:17), called Gideon to be a judge (Judges 6:11-21), and announced significant events such as the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah (Luke 1:11-13) and the announcement to the Virgin Mary that she would bear Jesus Christ (Luke 1:26-38).
People also engage in dialogue with angels. For instance, when the Archangel Gabriel announces the Incarnation to Mary, she inquires about how it will come to pass, given her virginity (Luke 1:34). Similarly, Abraham and Jacob are shown conversing with angels (Genesis 22:11; 31:11), as does Balaam (Numbers 22:34), Samson’s father (Judges 13), and several others. Both the prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 1) and the Apostle John (in the Book of Revelation) are depicted as having extended conversations with angels.
King David invites the angels, along with all of creation, to praise God: “Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts!” (Psalm 148:2) and “Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who carry out his commands, listening to the voice of his word!” (Psalm 103:20).
These are just some of the examples that could be given about why we ask for the intercession of angels. We hope you've enjoyed reading this. Leave us a comment - we love to hear from our readers and subscribers!
If you'd like to read more in depth about this topic, check out this article here about praying to angels (and saints)
Do you know about the 15 promises made to those who pray the Rosary daily? We recently wrote about praying the Rosary and looked at the 15 promises and some other interesting facts about the Rosary. Read about the Rosary and the 15 promises here.