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Carmen Pate, 40 Days for Life board of directors

Intention:

Pray to God who is able to do immeasurably

more than all we ask or imagine,

to end abortion.

Scripture:

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly

abundantly above all that we ask

or think, according to the power that

works in us, to Him be glory in the

church by Christ Jesus to all generations,

forever and ever. Amen.

-- Ephesians 3:20-21

Reflection:

God’s power working in and through

His people is unlimited and far beyond

our comprehension when we submit to

God’s Word and Spirit. He receives glory

when we are obedient to His calling

and faithfully serve Him in His

strength.

Consider God’s hand of providence on

this nation because of the faithfulness

of a few who were totally committed to

God and His truths. It is interesting to

note the words of Mother Teresa of

Calcutta: “Yours is the one great nation

in all history which was founded on the

precept of equal rights and respect for

all humankind, for the poorest and

weakest of us as well as the richest and

strongest.”

Mother Teresa, in addressing the Supreme

Court of the United States said,

“Human rights are not a privilege conferred

by government. They are every

human being’s entitlement by virtue of

his humanity. I have no new teaching

for America. I seek only to recall you to

faithfulness to what you once taught

the world. Your nation was founded on

the proposition very old as a moral

precept, but startling and innovative as

a political insight that human life is a

gift of immeasurable worth, and that it

deserves, always and everywhere, to

be treated with the utmost dignity and

respect.”

It is time to restore that dignity and respect.

Our God is able. Are we willing to

remain faithful until His work through

us is done?

Prayer:

God Almighty, Who is powerful and

willing to supply, our hearts cry in

unison for You to restore dignity and

respect to human life, not only in

America, but around the world.

Lord, may our hearts remain faithful to

your calling, and may You begin Your

transforming work with me. Keep me

ever mindful that with You Lord, nothing

is impossible; without You, I can do

nothing. To You be glory forever and

ever, amen.

As hard as it may seem to believe, the number of
abortion centers open on Sunday is increasing. So ...
the need for prayer is increasing as well.

Even at locations that are closed on Sundays, God
is providing blessings for those who answer the call
to pray and fast for an end to abortion — and cover
these places with prayer on the Lord’s Day.

Here’s an example from one of those campaigns.

HANOVER, PENNSYLVANIA

“Sundays have typically been a hard day to fill on
the vigil calendar,” said Chris in Hanover.

As last weekend approached, there were prayer times
with no volunteers. So she sent out invitations by
email and posted information on Facebook. That helped
draw in a few volunteers, but there were still hours
where no one had signed up.

On Saturday, a local newspaper, the Evening Sun,
featured a story about the campaign. Chris hoped
that would draw more volunteers. But when she left
for church on Sunday morning, the midday and
afternoon hours were still not covered.

“At that point there wasn’t much more I could do, so
I just asked God to please touch someone’s heart to
come and be at the vigil during the missing hours,”
she said. “And God provides!”

When she got home, she learned that people had made
commitments to go out and pray. “So now on our first
Sunday of the campaign, with temperatures barely
reaching 29 degrees and wind factors making it feel
like 15 degrees, we finally had all our hours covered.”

At one point that afternoon, there were TEN people
praying in front of Planned Parenthood. And God didn’t
just provide volunteers; He provided testimonies about
choosing life.

A family participating in the vigil told of their
daughter’s pregnancy. Because of a physical condition,
there was concern that she could not survive the
delivery. Doctors encouraged abortion — advice that
the young woman soundly rejected.

“Today, 14 years later,” Chris said, “both mother
and daughter are well. Praise God!”

Later, a couple arrived at the vigil site. The woman
got out of the car, bringing hot chocolate and coffee
to the prayer volunteers. She also told her story.

Eight years ago, she had an abortion. “She said that
if people like us were standing out and showing their
care and concern then as we are now, she is sure she
would not have had the abortion,” Chris said. “But
she knows God has forgiven her, and she is now
blessed with three small children who were along in
the car with her husband.”

As the volunteers thanked them for stopping, the
woman’s husband assured them that “God is watching
over you.”

Chris was reminded of something her grandchildren
had learned at vacation bible school:

God is great ... all the time!
All the time ... God is great!

“And boy, does it express the feelings for this past
weekend!” she said. “God loves us, He provides for us,
He hears and answers us — all the time!”