...a witness is not simply a “risk.” It is faith.

Countless Christians in the Ukrainian town had already been sent away to Siberian labor camps because of their faith. Now it was Vera Yakovlena’s turn. The reputation of these camps was widely known, and she was certain she would never survive.

When a guard found her witnessing for Christ, her punishment was to stand barefoot for hours on the ice. When she failed to meet her work quota, she was beaten and denied the watery broth they called the evening meal.
One evening, depressed and crying, Vera walked out into the prison yard to be alone. In her misery she didn’t notice that she had crossed into the forbidden zone, where prisoners are shot on sight.
Suddenly a harsh voice yelled, “Hey, is your mother a Christian?”
The stunned and frightened Vera, who had actually been thinking of her mother at the time, answered, “Why do you ask?”
The guard said, “Because I’ve been watching you for ten minutes, but I haven’t been able to shoot you. I can’t move my arm. It’s very healthy—I have been moving it all day. So I figured you must have a mother who is praying for you. Run back—I’ll look the other way.”
Vera saw the guard the very next day. He smiled at her and raised his arm saying, “Now I can move it again.”

We like to play it safe. We like security over adventure. We prefer comfort to challenge. When it comes down to it, we want to safeguard our lives from as much doubt and fear as possible. Yet we have forgotten that God offers his protection at times when we are on the front lines in his service. God’s protection is more like a shield in battle than like a security blanket for our comfort at home. When is the last time your stepped out in faith so much that you simply had to rely on God’s protection? Are you so busy safeguarding your life that you have forgotten how to trust God? Are you so cautious that you never take risks for God? Regardless of the outcome, a witness is not simply a “risk.” It is faith.

VOM 11.9.11

Thank you for posting this, it's a message I've been getting a lot lately.

This reminds me of the Civil war soldier who was giving a testimony before a group of people one day years after the war had ended. He spoke of being on guard duty one evening, alone in the dark, and remembered the way his mother would sing hymns in church when he was a little boy. He started humming and singing one of those hymns to himself, lowly. A man who was hearing him suddenly interupped his testimony and asked if the exact month and year and location of the battlefield was such. The man telling the story was totally amazed and said, yes, that was right! How did he know that! The other man then said, "Well, I was there too."

It turned out the other man was a Confederate or Union (I can't remember) sniper and actually had him in his crosshairs as he stood on guard duty that evening. But as he was about to pull the trigger and send him into eternity, he heard a hymntune he recognized from his youth, and it caused him to stay his finger. Swept with conviction, he just couldn't shoot the man. He lowered his rifle and went back to his own camp and gave his life to Christ not long afterward.

I really don't know the truth or how accurate this story is, but I've heard it a few times. Sounds like something from voice of the martyrs.

Praise God. For those who intercede for the persecuted, we dont get to see a lot of answers to our prayers. It is all by faith that we pray and that we know that God Almighty is hearing and working. Hallelujah.

This article is such a blessing as we got to see the answer to prayers we have been praying lately. We have been praying that the Lord would hold back the arm like the Angel of God did with Abraham as he was to sacrifice Isaak. And here we see the Lord held back the arm of this soldier from firing his rifle on our sister. All glory to God.

And we pray in Jesus powerful Name that You would bring this soldier to salvation and his whole family Lord. The seeds have been planted and watered now Lord we pray You will give the increase. Amen and Amen

All glory to God. It is He that lays it upon a saints heart to pray for the persecuted, it is He that gives us the prayers to pray, it is He that puts them in motion. It is He. It is all about our eyes on Jesus, it's all about Him.

Remember this Sunday, Nov. 13. National Day of Prayer For The Persecuted. Prayers around the world will be going to the Throne Room of God in Jesus Name. There is a conference call on that day and if you have or want a heart to pray for the persecuted please join on the call.

8am - 8pm Eastern time. 712-432-0031 452614#

You can pray as the Lord leads or agree in prayer with others who are praying. A new session begins on the hour.

Praise His Holy Name.