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Kevin Burke, Executive Director, Rachel’s Vineyard Ministries

Intention:

May the King of the Universe, who entered

this world as a helpless infant,

give us the humility to be healed.

Scripture:

My power is made perfect in weakness.

—2 Corinthians 12:9

Reflection:

The great mystery of the Humility of

God is very near and dear to the mission

of those serving in pro life and in a

special way, post abortion ministries

across this nation.

For those wounded by their participation

in abortion, the door to healing often

feels like crossing an abyss of great

fear: fear of judgment, fear of being

torn apart by the pain, by self hatred

and rage at those who hurt and abandoned

you, and manipulated you in

your time of temptation.

For men in particular, entering the unknown

waters of emotional vulnerability,

so necessary to healing calls for a

different kind of courage that feels deceptively

like weakness.

The door to healing is humility.

It is born in the inability to no longer

control the pain, to live with the consequences

of that tragic decision to reject

life. The hearts cries out, “I have committed

a grave offense against my Creator

and I am consumed by regret, grief

and sorrow!”

During these forty days let us pray for

all who have participated in abortion

and with love call them to healing and

reconciliation. With healing these

women and men can become as John

Paul II proclaimed in the Gospel of Life,

“the most eloquent defenders of everyone's

right to life.”

Jesus proclaimed, “I am the Vine, you

are the branches” (John 15:5). To bear

the greatest fruit, the branches must be

pruned. Each level of pruning of the

vine requires a deeper level of humility

so that we can abandon ourselves to

His will.

This is not a lofty theological concept

as much as it is an earthy experience of

pulling weeds, tilling rocky soil, pruning

and healing the vines. “If a man

wishes to come after me, he must deny

his very self, take up his cross, and

begin to follow in my footsteps” (Matthew

16:24).

Prayer:

Lord, during these forty days, we ask

that with each day of this sacred vigil,

everything in us that separates us from

your perfect will would be pruned from

our hearts and souls.

In this blessed freedom may we experience

a powerful anointing of your Holy

Spirit. Filled with confidence and

trust may we proclaim with the mother

of Jesus, “Let it be done to me, according

to your Word.”

Rev. John Ensor, Vice President, Heartbeat International

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 appointment

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 conversations

with people at the pregnancy

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.