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Today’s email from Shawn Carney:

40 Days for Life is a call to sacrifice.

During these 40 days, many of you sacrifice food, time,
sleep, television and other comforts. This of course
sounds good but can be VERY hard (especially when
you’re tired, hungry — and college basketball is on!).

But these detachments help us to reflect on what is
eternal and everlasting — God’s love!

And it’s most gratifying to know that people just like
you are going out of their way to pray, fast — and
sacrifice — on behalf of God’s innocent children.

KITCHENER, ONTARIO

You may be familiar with 2 Chronicles 7:14, the
scripture verse in which God tells us, “humble
yourselves and pray.” It’s central to the 40 Days
for Life message. A 40 Days for Life volunteer in
this Canadian city learned that it was possible to
both show humility — and to be a sign to others.

The volunteer arrived at the vigil site to stand and
pray. Passersby barely seemed to notice. But “after
a while, I felt convicted to kneel in prayer.”

At first, there was fear of looking stupid, small and
weak. But the fear soon melted. A short time later,
this vigil participant looked up and began to notice
the reactions of people driving by.

“It was very different now. I can best describe their
facial expressions as stunned, surprised and intensely
watching — sincerely amazed at what they were seeing.
I realized it was jarring for them to see someone
worshiping and appealing to God in such a public,
humbling manner.”

The world views humbling oneself as a position of
weakness. “Yet, by placing myself in a position of
weakness, it became a position of strength: strength
to witness; strength to pray more fervently; strength
to stir the human heart.”

ORLANDO, FLORIDA

The call to humble prayer is also being heard in
Orlando, where the 40 Days for Life vigil is taking
place outside a facility where late-term abortions
are performed.

On a recent day, it is estimated that more than 30
abortions took place — well into the evening. Vigil
participants say the atmosphere at this place is
most disturbing.

“A peaceful prayer presence is so very needed,” said one
40 Days for Life participant. “Silent peaceful prayer
is so necessary at the unhappiest place on earth.”

For a photo of 40 Days for Life vigil participants
kneeling in prayer in Orlando please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1633

CANTON, OHIO

David Bereit, the national director of 40 Days for Life,
often asks people to consider this: “Many of us have
worked jobs where we’ve put in 40 hours a week; why not
try to put in 40 hours at the vigil over the course of
40 Days for Life?”

Daphne in Canton has responded to that call to sacrifice.
“I am challenging you to something that I have challenged
myself to during the 40 Days for Life campaign — to pray
for 40 hours. I am calling it the 40 Hour Challenge,” she
said. “I am inviting all of you to embrace the Cross and
take up the 40 Hour Challenge.”

What to pray for? Daphne suggests praying for 40 Days for
Life, for the campaign’s local and national leaders, for
everyone making the sacrifice to pray at the abortion
centers, for all those pondering abortion and all those
affected by abortion. “The list goes on and on,” she said.

Just in case you haven’t checked the list of 247 locations
where 40 Days for Life vigils are going on TODAY, please
go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/location.cfm

Day 7 - March 15

Intention:

Pray that the abortionists and all workers in abortion facilities would be troubled in their souls regarding their work and would seek truth.

Scripture:

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.

-- Ephesians 4:31-32

Reflection:

We see the evil and oppression in the world, the arrogance of those who mock God, the millions of innocent lives destroyed because of the greed of a few. Our flesh tells us that we should take justice in our own hands, but instead of vengeance, the Lord calls us to love our enemy, to forgive others as we have been forgiven.

God loves the abortionist and the Planned Parenthood advocate just as much as He loves you. It breaks His heart to see them in bondage to sin and He is giving you this opportunity to introduce them to the Savior who sets the captive free.

Though you may not experience direct interaction with these souls, your presence will not go unnoticed. Your non-verbal communications speak volumes about the God you serve.

Forgiveness is an act of obedience to God (Colossians 3:13). Forgiveness is not condoning or overlooking the wrong behavior of others, but rather it is freeing ourselves so that God can work mightily through us to touch their hearts for Him. Let's join our hearts with His in recognizing that those in the abortion industry are not the enemy, but rather they are blinded by the enemy. God desires that we bring them the message of truth and hope found in Christ, but the messengers He will use are those willing to forgive.

Prayer:

Dearest God, You tell us in Proverbs that the foolish and the wicked lack wisdom and understanding. I pray you will trouble the souls of those in the abortion industry so that they hunger for truth and cry out for freedom. I pray that my life would reflect my redemption so others may see it and trust in You. In obedience to You, and by your grace, I choose to forgive others as you have forgiven me. In the name of Christ my Redeemer I pray, amen.

Carmen Pate
Co-host, "Point of View" talk show