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In SD the opposition is pretty tame. During nice weather you get an occasional carload of teens or those in their early 20's who drive past and yell obscenities, but it wasn't much more than that, whenever I have been out there. I am thankful for this devotional, as God reminded me of this very thing when there were several one day who had driven past and yelled at me. The SD PP is located across the street from a local high school. There were many days where a friend and I walked around the school and prayed for the students and against the seeds that PP was sowing there, before praying at PP. On my year vigil, God sent a few of those students to talk to me. Those driving by or walking by, need our prayers as much as those who are entering the driveway of PP. The prayers we offer up for those passing may save lives as well as those offered up for those entering PP. I have to keep reminding myself this is essentially a spiritual battle, and God cares for the souls of all those who pass by or enter. Battle is really against Satan and his minions, not against the person who is confused and entering PP for what they believe is the answer to what they view as their problem.

I am also concerned for the lives of those who are holding vigil. Please stand with me in pray to cover them and their safety. Whenever we make in-roads into territory that Satan has a firm hold of, he will retaliate....with inflicting sickness, financial issues, accidents, struggles with our family members, anything that will deter us from the calling to fight the battle against him and PP. In the economic and political unrest that we are currently in, I pray even moreso for the protection and safety of all who are at vigil.

Father God, protect our hearts and minds as we are at vigil, whether it is a presence in front of PP, at work, or at home. Give us Your eyes, to see we are there to pray for those who are entering the facilities as well as all who pass by. Help us to see with Your heart, that this is souls at stake not just another nameless face or carload of misguided youth. Father God, I pray that Your hand of protection be on all of Your children who have taken up the call to be in prayer for LIFE. Keep Your guardian and warring angels round about them, to protect them from the onslaughts of the enemy, in whatever form or shape they may be coming. Protect their families, jobs, finances, property and possessions, in Jesus Name. Help us to always keep our focus on You, and Your mission for us in this life. In this new prayer closet You have called us to, be ever near, ever watchful, ever present. Help us all to feel that presence in a way it has never been known before.

For those who are struggling with the fasting, Lord, strengthen them. Bless them with energy, an increased fervor and hope. Bless them with a renewed relationship and closeness to You.

Father God we thank and praise Your Holy Name for the hearts You are touching be a part of this 40-Days for Life. May that call stay on their hearts, minds and lives when the 40 days is complete, and bring them to a position of constant warrior for You rather than someone in reserve.

Father God, bring a revival in this movement and in this country, in the Mighty Name of Jesus! Let us be a part of it. We ask this all in Jesus Precious and Mighty Name, Decree it in Jesus Blood, Amen!!

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DAY 29 INTENTION
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We pray for the grace to be strong when others ridicule or oppose us.

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SCRIPTURE
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Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

--Luke 14:27

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REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
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To stand up for what is right means we stand against what is wrong, and that means that those who love what is wrong will oppose us, just as they opposed Christ. Taking up the cross means we continue speaking and standing for the right even when that opposition comes.

We experience this, in particular, when we are out on the streets, where people are not expecting the pro-life message and where they did not go to hear it. We must remember to never take the opposition personally.

When people ridicule or yell at us, we might get a guilty feeling or be tempted to think we did something wrong. We did not.

The insults are not being hurled at us personally, but rather at the truth of what we are standing for, and at the demands of the moral law.

There are many who are trying to run away from those demands, or who have managed to tuck the abortion problem away into a distant corner of their minds where it can no longer disturb them.

By standing publicly for the cause of life, we have short-circuited that denial and frustrated those efforts to ignore the issue. Therefore, some will be angry, perhaps not fully realizing why.

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PRAYER
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Lord, thank you for the grace of being pro-life, and of standing strong when others may ridicule or oppose me.

During this 40 Day campaign, may your peace fill my soul, especially when I may endure the opposition of others, and may I become more like your crucified and risen Son. Amen.