The car rounded a corner and began to approach the government building. It was a scene eerily absent of normal daily activities. All quiet in Baghdad hardly normal. It usually indicated that a curfew had been imposed; or something was about to happen, just happened, or was happening and you had not been informed.
As the car approached, gunfire pierced through the silence. Rounds coursed across the road all around them. Instinctively the driver began to pull the car to the side of the road. Brandt’s assistant in the back seat screamed, “la, la, la, “ translated “no, no, no!” in English.
The road in front of the ministry headquarters was lined with barriers and razor wire. There was nowhere to go. The driver stepped on the gas and drove through the firefight. The racket of gunfire and the crack of bullets passing by overwhelmed the senses. They made it to the other side. They were alive, but silent. Not a word was spoken as they completed the drive to the office.
They pulled into the office parking lot and got out to examine the car. Not one bullet had hit the car. Miraculously they had been delivered through the hail of bullets. The two Muslims looked in disbelief. It is not common for a Muslim to pray with a Christian, but his driver and assistant held hands with Brandt as he prayed, thanking God for His protection. Once in the office Brandt turned on the computer. An email had just arrived. One of the Christians praying for Brandt and his family had been awakened in their sleep with the sense that God wanted them to pray for Brandt. The email said, “I was just awakened to pray for you. I don’t know what is going on in your day today, but I wanted you to know that I am praying.”
We may never know why our heart is burdened to pray, but we must pray nonetheless. He is drawing us to himself co-laboring with him in his work, his will.
Father God, show me your heart and awaken me from my sleep to pray. I long to co-labor with you. May your compassion be my compassion, may my heart break for what breaks your heart. Thank you God for awakening me.
“Morning by morning He awakens me.” (Isaiah 50:4b)