Thank you for your good postcard and for the greeting in Missionæren. Now I have been released from watch duty at the barracks after a week of service. I hope you received my earlier letter stating that the company and corps commanders would not approve my request. Yesterday, the final reply came from the Fleet Admiral, who said that in light of the company and corps’ recommendations, he decided not to grant the request.

That caused quite a surprise to my military colleagues to hear this decision, since people are generally granted leave for just about anything. But the hatred of Christ and of the work for His cause have no doubt been a factor here as well.

Now, dear brother, I want to thank you very much for offering to let me work for you during the requested three months’ leave and for being willing during that time to teach me English. My heartfelt desire was also to be able to devote myself to the work for those three months. But now things have gone the way they have, so God be thanked.

Yes, thanks be to God who always gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ; so He will also give us victory in this matter. Just when our adversaries believe that they have overcome us and rejoice over their accomplishments, the trap has been set. For it is not the arrogant in spirit who are blessed, but the poor. This decision has worked a greater zeal in me to take up the battle against the rulers of this age, and I thank God that He will give me grace in the days ahead—more than ever before—to conquer them. Therefore, thanks be to God in Jesus Christ that He allowed the outcome to be what it was, because this increase in zeal and power is more valuable to me than three months of leave and will likely result in more work being accomplished, because power is work.

Since I am not beholden to these mighty rulers—God will always make sure of that—then I can with even greater boldness take up the battle against those whose spirit always wars against Christ and His Spirit, because Satan will be crushed under our feet.

Greetings to your wife and warm greetings to you from your brother, always surrendered in Jesus Christ,