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Day 24 - October 15

Intention:

Pray that God will continue to bless the efforts that have gone into the 40 Days for Life campaign, as we trust Him for the results.

Scripture:

Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name.

-- Nehemiah 1:10-11

Reflection:

Nehemiah provides an awesome blueprint for volunteers in God's service, particularly those responding to the devastation abortion has caused our nation.

Nehemiah grieved for God's reputation as he witnessed the condition of the city walls of Jerusalem. The walls were broken down which was seen by neighboring people as a sign of weakness on the part of Jerusalem's God. No wall meant no security for the city and its people.

We learn from his story that he covered every detail in prayer; inspired others to join the cause; organized others to help do the work; confronted opposition directly and turned to God when discouraged; and finally celebrated what was accomplished and gave God all the glory!

Like Nehemiah, we must acknowledge God's sovereignty as we serve Him before a mocking world. We too need to be reminded that we are "fighting" for our families. We too must have an attitude of confession and repentance before a Holy God. We must pray for strength, refute slander, and not be diverted from our work.

Like Nehemiah, we will draw attention from the enemy when we are seeking to protect the well-being of God's people. We too must stand firm and seek God's help to persevere until the task is done. We too will be victorious.

Prayer:

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in heaven and in the earth is Yours. We pray for your continued guidance and protection throughout the remainder of this 40 day campaign. May we be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in Your work, knowing that our labor will not be in vain. We pray in the name of Jesus, amen.

Carmen Pate
Co-host, "Point of View" Talk Show

Today’s email:

In response to all of the information we’ve shared
about the international outreach of 40 Days for Life,
I’ve received two notes of encouragement ...

... from the Philippines!

“As we continue to pray for our mission, please also
remember in your prayer that our country, the
Philippines, not legalize abortion,” wrote Sister
Guadalupe. So-called reproductive health legislation
has drawn strong opposition from religious leaders
and is currently on hold in the Philippine congress.

“Horrible to comprehend, but I hope God won’t allow
it,” she said. “Keep up the good work and God bless.”

“I am so grateful to God that there is still a group
of people who valued life and who remains faithful to
God’s teaching,” wrote Elna. “I am with you in my
prayer and sacrifices.”

Elna noted with sadness the number of babies throughout
the world who are lost to abortion every minute, but is
hopeful this tragedy can be brought to an end. “Thanks
to your care for life,” she said. “You are there to be
a reminder. You are there to give hope. You are there
to announce love.”

Please keep the Philippines in your prayers — and who
knows? 40 Days for Life may come to their nation, too!

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA

The 40 Days for Life vigil in Virginia Beach is being
held in front of a brand-new Planned Parenthood abortion
center — a modern-looking building on the edge of a
minority community.

About 100 people gathered in front of the facility on
Monday evening for a midpoint rally — with 40 Days for
Life national director David Bereit and his family among
them. The group represented a cross section of the
community — black, white, Asian, Catholic, Evangelical,
Protestant — all united to pray for an end to abortion.

To see some photos, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?

“To date we know of three babies that have been saved,”
said Louantha, one of the local coordinators, “and
hopefully there are many other mothers who have changed
their minds but just didn’t let us know.”

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

“It is a rare time to witness a save during the 40 Days
for Life campaign,” wrote Judy in Birmingham, “but I was
present for two saves simultaneously! Yes — TWINS!”

Prayer volunteers watched as a young woman, her
boyfriend and her grandmother walked into Planned
Parenthood. The grandmother seemed downright unfriendly.
Judy said “she went inside for a half hour — and came
out a totally transformed woman.

What happened during that half hour? “The prayer
volunteers on the sidewalk prayed fervently for the
woman’s granddaughter,” Judy said, “a very young woman
determined to abort her babies. When she came out ...
she said that she had decided to keep her babies.”

The grandmother, who was standing beside her, said,
“Yes, she’s having TWINS!”

“It was indeed a rare and joyful moment,” said Judy.
“We all smiled and thanked God for His gift of life
— in this case, GIFTS of life.”

And thank YOU for your continued prayers!