God Answers Prayer in World War I Battle
An officer in the first World War gives this account of God’s willing and ability to save men from shot and shell when they will pray. A German machine gun crew had their gun trained on an angle of our trenches where troops frequently passed back and forth, and the casualties were many.
As a last resort volunteers were called to storm the German gun in the open. Fifteen men volunteered. They themselves could see at a glance that most if not all of them must die. Even if they succeeded in silencing the gun they would scarcely escape the hail of lead that would follow them back to their lines.
The young officer appointed to lead them, a chum of the one reporting the incident, before going over, addressed the volunteers as follows: “Men, I am a Christian. Before every undertaking I pray, Those of you who are willing, kneel with me and pray about this one.”
Then he uncovered his head and kneeling prayed, asking God to spare their lives, but if any must go that their souls might be saved. When he arose from his knees he noted that every man of them had knelt with uncovered head.
Then they went over the top and raced for the machine gun nest amid a hail of lead and steel. They overcame the gun crew, tore up the gun and took it with them as they ran back to their trenches – not a man missing or seriously wounded.
To the men looking on, it was a miracle indeed. None among them will ever say that the day of miracles is past. God has not withdrawn His “exceeding great and precious promises.”
Source: Gospel Herald
From a sermon by Bill Butsko, Don’t Be Surprised, 6/25/2010