Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.

• Daniel 9:18

“I remember one night in particular when the women who were sleeping near the windows slammed them shut against the cold. At once, scores of voices demanded that they be raised again. Brawls started up and down that side of the room; we heard scuffling, slaps and sobs. Betsie and I were terrified that the guards would hear the fighting. Fighting meant punishment for all of us.
“In the dark, I felt Betsie’s hand clasp mine. ‘Lord Jesus,’ she said aloud, ‘send Your peace into this room. There has been too little praying here. The very walls know it. But where You come, Lord, the spirit of strife cannot exist.’
“The change was gradual but distinct. One by one, the angry sounds let up.
” ‘I’ll make you a deal.’ The voice spoke German. ‘You can sleep in here where it’s warmer, and I’ll take your place by the window.’
” ‘And add your lice to my own?’ But there was a chuckle in the answer. ‘No, thanks.’ ”

• Corrie ten Boom, God is my Hiding Place

“God will work through me to release His presence into a gloomy situation if I am willing to let Him show me how.”

• Corrie ten Boom, Highlighted Quote

Boilerplate

In this new mini-series, I will be looking at a devotion that is said to be written by Corrie ten Boom.  Really, this devotion is like several that I had read.  They come from the writings of that person.  Thus, the prayers at the end may be the editor’s addition to what Corrie ten Boom actually wrote.

Each of these posts will include the suggested verses to read, a quote from the writing that came from a Corrie ten Boom book (five in all according to the copyright page, but no chapter in the book is given the specific book of origin).  I will also include the highlighted quote, similar to an internet quotation, and I will end with the quoted prayer for that devotion.

Discussion

Again, Betsie is the spiritual leader.  She finds her sister’s hand in the dark and begins to pray.  Did the others hear the prayer or did God calm them simply because the prayer went before the Lord?

Regardless of whether the others heard the prayer or not, it was the divine work of God to have these hardened prisoners sacrifice for the wellbeing of others.  Each person in that prison, or most of them, had a thought in their mind to be the last person standing, if they had any hope left at all.  Yet, after Betsie’s prayer, one person offered a bed further from the window.  Then another person suggested the window half-open so that they would only half-freeze, that is, those by the window.

If you read that chapter, in the devotion or probably from The Hiding Place, you will see a rare display of generosity from people who had nothing to gain by it.  And there was an equal course of gallows humor.  Teasing about the lice and being half-frozen.  It did not happen all at once.  One person offered one thing, then the next and the next.  All the fighting had stopped.

Under this harsh circumstance, I would consider these acts of generosity to be yet another miracle, but others would not go that far.  But something changed the hearts of those women in the barracks.

Prayer works many great wonders.  The greatest wonder is how it changes the one who is praying.

Closing Prayer

“Father, give me the grace to see impossible situations through Your eyes. Help me not to despair under the weight of difficulty but to bring every concern to You. Show me how to pray and fill me with faith that doesn’t waver. Let me make a difference in the world that You have placed me in. May I never turn my eyes from those in need or shift my heart away from Your leading.”

• Corrie ten Boom, God is my Hiding Place (prayer for Day 12, There is Power in Your Prayers)

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.