©2013
40 Days for Life, Inc. www.40daysforlife.comDevotional for Day 10, February 22, 2013
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 12:9-10Reflection:
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. Jobs circumstances were
bad but he never loses faith. Why? Be
causethe 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, weve lost that
basic truth; every life is made and al
lowedto live by Gods sovereign a
uthority.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
toget
her in our mothers womb to ourlast breath, Gods word is clear that in
His hand is the life of every creature
and the breath of all mankind.
Its time for us as individuals, a
nd as asociety, to recognize that we exist by
Gods grace and turn back to Him, ho
noringHis word and His teachings.
Why? Because our world is full of Jobs,
people who are dealing with trials and
tribulations and hurting desperately.
Jobs response shoul
d 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? Jobs friends who
doubted Gods 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.
“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.”
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.
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.