In 1941, while America was deeply involved in World War II, 52 young men from Seadrift, a small town in Texas, went off to war.

“All the people in the city was praying for everybody,” said one survivor.

Another said, “If somebody wouldn’t have been praying for us, I don’t think a lot of us would make it back.”

“We knew God was going to take care of us,” another man said.

The pastor of a small church in Seadrift came up with this idea: Members of the church brought in photographs of their sons, which were framed and arranged in a collage that congregation and community members prayed over.

One intercessor wrote, “We all began to get a burden for those boys and so we began to meet and pray for their safety. We stood on Psalm 91. It seemed like we read that every time we would meet. We didn’t only pray at the church—we prayed at home also. It seemed like that burden just stayed with us.”

When the war was over, all 52 of those young men returned home safely.

Most High God

Psalm 91 says this: Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes and see how the wicked are punished. If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you will not even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them; I will reward them with long life and give them my salvation.”

Today we face a different kind of war. Our enemy is silent and invisible. But just like Psalms says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my Name. When they call on me, I will answer. I will be with them in trouble.” My wife and I made the choice years ago to come under his covering. It was the best decision we ever made.

Storms come and storms go. Scripture says, “In this world, you will have tribulation.” But if you make the Most High your shelter, his faithful promises will be your armor and protection. Call upon the name of the Lord, and you will be saved.

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