Replies

Georgette Forney, Anglicans for Life

Intention:

May those who hold life as trivial realize

that we live because God wills it so.

Scripture:

Who among all these does not know

that the hand of the Lord has done this,

in His hand is the life of every creature

and the breath of all mankind.

— Job 12:9-10

Reflection:

Job was a man acquainted with grief,

trials and tribulation. He had everything

taken from him, including his

family. He endured sickness, ridicule

and judgment from his friends.

Everyone gave him advice about his

situation, questioning his spirituality

and his God. Job’s circumstances were

bad but he never loses faith. Why? Because

“the hand of the Lord has made

all life.” Created by God, he knows his

life has meaning and purpose, regardless

of the circumstances.

In our present culture, we’ve lost that

basic truth; every life is made and allowed

to live by God’s sovereign authority.

As people who pride ourselves

on our independence, we have a hard

time acknowledging our dependence

on God.

From our creation, when we were knit

together in our mother’s womb to our

last breath, God’s word is clear that “in

His hand is the life of every creature

and the breath of all mankind.”

It’s time for us as individuals, and as a

society, to recognize that we exist by

God’s grace and turn back to Him, honoring

His word and His teachings.

Why? Because our world is full of Jobs,

people who are dealing with trials and

tribulations and hurting desperately.

Job’s response should be ours as well.

Regardless of what we face (even an

unplanned pregnancy) God in His wisdom

and mercy will redeem it.

How do I know? Job’s friends who

doubted God’s sovereignty cry out to

God asking for help, God instructs Job

to pray for his friends and after he

does, God restores all that Job had lost.

In other words, because Job never lost

faith and knew and trusted His Creator,

the Lord blessed Job.

Prayer:

Thank you Father God for being the

Creator of my life and every life. Please

give me, and the society in which I live,

an appreciation for your gift of life.

Please help us set aside our pride and

acknowledge that we need you.

Show me how I can honor you today in

response to all the blessings you bestow

freely. In the name of Jesus, amen.

In yesterday’s message, I talked about prayer
volunteers being the first sign of mercy a woman
sees after an abortion. But it is also true that
on the sidewalks outside the abortion centers,
you’re the last sign of hope for the women going
in for an abortion.

In many cases, you’re the ONLY sign of hope. And
sometimes, that one sign is all that is needed.

ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS

“On the second day of our 10th campaign in Attleboro,
a young couple left the abortion clinic and drove
across the street to where a group of our vigil
volunteers were praying,” said Ron in Attleboro.

The couple said, “Thank you! We didn’t do it” — and
drove happily away.

“Since Massachusetts laws allow for a large buffer
zone near the clinic, we have little opportunity to
engage with those who come to the clinic considering
abortion,” Ron explained.

“Those present were surprised and deeply overjoyed at
the news. This save is a blessing on our campaign and
we continue to pray for many more in the days ahead.”

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

Trudi in Melbourne reports that on the first day of
the campaign, prayer volunteers were able to help a
young mother choose life. If she had come to the
abortion center the day before, there would have
been no one praying outside at that hour.

Two days later, another young mother left looking very
upset. “She was comforted at the gate by a counselor,”
Trudi said. “Again, this was in the afternoon when no
one is normally present to offer help. She was six
months pregnant and the abortionist would not do late
term abortions.”

She was too scared to tell her mother. She had been
pregnant once before, and her mother insisted on an
abortion. “Miraculously,” Trudi said, “the father
saved that baby at the eleventh hour.” The mother who
demanded an abortion is now the loving grandmother of
a 2-year-old boy.

“But the miracles continue,” she said. The abortion
center counselor DID NOT direct her to a late term
abortion facility, but to a pro-life pregnancy help
agency. “Unbelievable!”

The 40 Days for Life team is looking for a place for
the young woman to stay. She is still too scared to
tell her mother.

URGENT PERSONAL PRAYER REQUEST

Before today’s devotional, I have an urgent prayer
request for a friend — someone who was instrumental
in getting 40 Days for Life started. His name is
Dr. Royal Benson, and he is fighting for his life
at this moment.

For the last 13 years, Royal has served on the board
of directors (ten of those years as chairman of the
board) of the Coalition for Life, the organization
in Bryan/College Station, Texas where 40 Days for Life
began. His support and enthusiasm were instrumental in
launching the first local campaign, and he helped with
the expansion of 40 Days for Life to a national, and
then international, effort.

He is a gifted OB-GYN, and was doctor to my wife and
David Bereit’s wife. He delivered David’s son and
three of my children when we lived in Texas. He is
also a dear friend of Abby Johnson and her husband
Doug, and delivered their baby boy last summer.

Dr. Benson is only 56 years old and is battling a
serious respiratory crisis and is in ICU on a
ventilator. Please pray for strength for this
pro-life hero and dear friend, his wife, and his
daughter during their difficult time.