Day 24 - October 19
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
40 Days for Life board of directors
Today’s email:
Today I’ll be speaking at the 40 Days for Life vigil
in Mobile, Alabama ... where the Planned Parenthood
abortion facility is across from a local pregnancy
center that offers loving alternatives.
We usually start the work week with some encouraging
stories. Why not end it the same way?
There are challenges, obstacles and lots of sacrifices
that go along with conducting a 40 Days for Life
campaign. But the Lord’s abundant blessings make it
all worthwhile.
Here are just a few examples.
Elizabeth in Madison says it looks like Planned
Parenthood is starting to get irritated. For one
thing, a pregnancy help center has opened right
across the street — and women are taking note.
Planned Parenthood even put up a sign that says
“health center entrance” next to their driveway,
suggesting that women were going to the pregnancy
help center by mistake.
Planned Parenthood also called the police because
one of the vigil participants, a disabled veteran,
was sitting in a lawn chair in the public
right-of-way. Elizabeth said it appeared that
“the police were annoyed by the call and supportive
of his right to be there. So praise God for the
persecution!”
About 60 people attended a prayer service at the
40 Days for Life vigil site in Downers Grove, hearing
from a local pastor as well as a representative of
Silent No More, who spoke of the pain and heartbreak
of abortion ... and the forgiveness and healing
available from God.
“We filled the time with music, prayer and scripture,”
said one of the volunteers, “calling for God’s mercy
and love to strengthen our resolve and soften hearts.”
To see a picture of the vigil in Downers Grove, please
go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3531
“I just got the confirmation that one of the women
who left Planned Parenthood with our free pregnancy
test/ultrasound coupon went to the pregnancy health
center and has decided to keep her baby,” said
Paulette in Chester County.
“This is the first baby of this campaign that we are
definitely sure has been saved,” she said. “We are
all so blessed in Chester County’s 40 Days for Life.”
“Our success is showing in the reaction of the clinic,
which has turned their sprinklers on us, provided
parking lot escorts, and even hired ‘pro-choice’
protesters,” said Chris in Shreveport. “Despite the
challenges, we remain undeterred.”
Prior to the start of this campaign, the Shreveport-
Bossier team started a sidewalk counseling initiative.
That effort has helped encourage eight mothers to
choose life for their babies.
“Some of us have been praying outside that abortion
center every month for twelve years,” Chris said.
“We have witnessed only a few saves in over a decade
of faithful prayer. While we firmly believe that God
answers our prayers mostly without us ever knowing
it, now He is starting to show us and it is glorious!”
Volunteers noted one woman in particular who came to
the abortion center, hesitant and unsure about even
going in. She told Brittany, one of the counselors,
that she was pregnant with her third child. But after
talking about the abortion with Brittany, she said,
“I don’t want to go through with it.”
Brittany witnessed her first save as she saw this
woman get in her car and drive off without making an
appointment. She said afterwards, “It’s a great day
to save a life!”