Safe in Iraq

Safe in Iraq

Arthur Branner personally recounted his call to Iraq to be chaplain of a battalion for one year.

When he arrived he counted the number of men he would be serving and portioned out their names so that he could pray for each one by name at least once each week.

Before their convoy left for the first mission Chaplain Branner called them together and offered to pray. He informed them that he was going to pray Psalm 91 over them. The response was quite open from some expressing clear resentment of this formality as they shifted their position, sighed, and rolled their eyes. Nevertheless he earnestly prayed, and they left on their mission.

The time passed when they were scheduled to return. Finally, two and one-half hours later they returned with a harrowing story. There was a van planted on the roadside filled with shrapnel and a bomb. At the very middle of the convoy the bomb exploded and shrapnel flew everywhere. Standing in the turret, with his upper body exposed, the gunner was a living target. Marvelling, he saw the shrapnel fly all around him, and some even scored the faceplate behind him, but not even one piece hit him-- or anyone else in the convoy!

When he heard this miracle of deliverance from harm Chaplain Branner exclaimed, “Remember, I prayed for you before you left, for God’s protection. God heard and answered that prayer with His protection promised in Psalm 91.”

From this experience, and many that followed, his battalion of soldiers became convinced of how precious life is when at war, and that there was special protection being afforded them through the prayers of their chaplain. One of his soldiers asked, “Chaplain Branner, aren’t you afraid as you go with us without any weapon or ammunition.” He replied, “I have more ammunition than you, with 66 rounds of ammunition –(the Bible). I know that God’s angels protect me.”

Upon their return to United States the commander spoke to all assembled spouses and families informing them that not one of the members of this battalion was lost in death or any missing limbs. He credited this miracle of God’s protection to the prayers of Chaplain Branner. It was an awesome realization that they had gone on more than 4,000 missions with full protection of Almighty God!

Although we who read this are not in actual physical combat, all are in a spiritual war daily. Prayer is our connection to heaven. Scriptures such as Psalm 91 are promises that God protects from harm and evil those who connect with Him. The safest place we can be is to “abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:2).

Related Articles

More From Prose

Growing up with Mark

Growing up with Mark

As I was growing up I couldn't remember when Mark wasn't a part of my life. We were in…
Growing up with Mark

My Rabbi

I really appreciate my Rabbi. I asked this man so many questions the mere fact he could…
My Rabbi

Tanya

Tanya grew up in an Orthodox Jewish home in the Soviet Union. Her family's tea business was…
Tanya

And They Lived Happily...

Author Richard Paul Evans has written many novels that carry the theme “and they lived happily…
And They Lived Happily...

Dead Branches

I was trimming some roses. I noticed that for some reason many of the branches had died so I…
Dead Branches

Is God's Law My Creed?

In the 1980’s Gerry was selling religious literature door to door.
Is God's Law My Creed?

Bubbe’s Zalts

Bubbe’s Zalts (Yiddish for the word salt) On a scale of one to ten, my mother was a ten. Mama…
Bubbe’s Zalts
Clifford Goldstein

Clifford Goldstein

Clifford Goldstein will tell you that his family tree is full of typewriters, pens, and books.…
Clifford Goldstein

Attacking the Wrong Thing

One summer I was mowing the yard with my mom and at some point I heard her yell “run!” I…
Attacking the Wrong Thing

Road Rage

I was on my way to meet someone in a place I had never been before. The home I was going to was…
Road Rage

Conquering the Monster of Fear

Years ago the picture on the front of a church bulletin depicted a lovely bird perched on the…
Conquering the Monster of Fear

Ctrl + Z

One of my favorite keyboard shortcuts is Ctrl + Z. It instantly deletes the last action you…
Ctrl + Z

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation