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It’s everyone’s question during 40 Days for Life:
“How do I know my prayers are making a difference?”

Trust me. They ARE!

Know that your prayers — all of them, collectively
— are being heard and answered.

Mother Teresa said we are not called to be successful;
we are called to be faithful. Here are a few examples
of prayerful faithfulness bearing fruit.

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA

The 40 Days for Life vigil in Halifax is in front of a
large hospital. “Our witness is simply our prayerful
presence on the public sidewalk to the hundreds of
people who walk past on their way to work or to school,”
said Julie in Halifax.

Just recently, Julie learned about something that took
place during last fall’s campaign.

A vigil participant’s son was at the nearby university
when a friend of his came into class — very upset. She
had just found out that she was pregnant. She also told
her friend that she was very angry with the people
praying for an end to abortion outside the hospital.

The young man quietly said, “My dad is one of those
people praying.”

“I don’t know whether this young woman was considering
an abortion,” Julie said. “What we do know is that she
carried her baby to term and has kept her child. My
sense is that this young man’s simple witness touched
this girl’s heart. And those she had perceived as her
enemy — those ‘zealous Christians praying in public’
— suddenly had a human face.”

We never know where our prayers are reaching, she said,
“but I feel sure that last year at this time, those
prayers affected this girl and helped her to make a
decision for life.”

To see pictures of the Halifax vigil, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2310

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA

One Fort Myers church put together a video for its web
site to encourage members of the parish to participate
in the community’s first 40 Days for Life campaign —
especially on the days this church has pledged to
cover the peaceful prayer vigil at the abortion center.

It’s worth a look — an example of what’s possible in
terms of getting more people to get out to the abortion
facilities and pray. It shows what happens at the vigil
— and what Christ can do when two or more are gathered
in His name.

To watch the video, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2310

LAWRENCEVILLE, GEORGIA

Can there be too much of a good thing? In the case of a
40 Days for Life event in Lawrenceville — maybe so!

Some young people were holding a sign along the sidewalk
with the message, “Honk if your mom chose life.”

Once they displayed that sign, the event turned into a
virtual festival of honking horns.

“We got so many honks of support it was sometimes hard
to hear our guest speaker’s talk,” said Kateri in
Lawrenceville. “But he was laughing about it afterwards,
because he was the one who urged the kids to hold that
particular sign.”

To see a photo of the young people and their very
effective sign, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2310

We are 10 days into this 40 Days for Life. Have you been out to pray in front of a Planned Parenthood Clinic or abortion center yet?

Day 10 - October 7

Intention:

Pray for your local pregnancy help center: for those who answer calls from women considering abortion, those who provide ultrasounds, and those who personally help mothers prepare to parent or place for adoption.

Scripture:

Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

--Psalm 82:4

Reflection:

When a woman arrives at her local pregnancy help center, the hard work of "rescuing the weak" begins. They listen to her. What desperate circumstance is driving her? They act. A professional ultrasound and medical care is provided. They pray, "God use us." Then, they take up her burdens and work towards life. It is cross-bearing for the child-bearing.

Recently, I prayed for one volunteer who was working with one mother in her struggle. Here is what "rescue the weak" looked like in this one case:

Aug 3: She made an appoint-ment for Thursday to get an abortion and while she feels terrible about it, she also feels like she has no choice. Pray that her heart is changed!
Aug 10: She is 12 weeks along but missed her appointment. She had some good conversa-tions with people at the preg-nancy center. She is now considering adoption.
Aug 13: Things are down again. She now has an abortion scheduled for Monday. Pray!
Aug 17: Missed appointment! God is working in her life.
Sept 1: We've hit another rocky period. She has an abortion scheduled for tomorrow. She found out today that her parents are planning a trip to visit her and she is panicking.
Sept 15: Missed third appointment. But feels like she has no choice. Please pray today.
Sept 20: She fears her parents but has agreed to another ultrasound (a breakthrough).
Sept 22: I was there with her for her ultrasound. She saw her baby moving and made the realization that she wants to carry her baby.

Please keep praying against attack by the enemy. We are overwhelmed by seeing God's hand move in this situation and are so very thankful for the prayers lifted up by each one of you. God is good!

Prayer:

Father, we praise you for this one sister who gave herself, heart and soul, to rescue this one mother and baby. O may you empower the hundreds more today who are serving in our pregnancy help centers. Grant those answering calls, providing ultrasound and following up with a bold spirit of truth, love and perseverance.

Rev. John Ensor
Vice President, Heartbeat International