40 Days for Life is a call to sacrifice.
During these 40 days, many of you sacrifice food, time, sleep, television and other comforts. This of course sounds good but can be VERY hard (especially when you’re tired, hungry — and college basketball is on).
But these detachments help us to reflect on what is eternal and everlasting — God’s love!
And it’s most gratifying to know that people just like you are going out of their way to pray, fast — and sacrifice — on behalf of God’s innocent children.
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KITCHENER, ONTARIO
——————————————————-You may be familiar with 2 Chronicles 7:14, the scripture verse in which God tells us, “humble yourselves and pray.” It’s central to the 40 Days for Life message. A 40 Days for Life volunteer in this Canadian city learned that it was possible to both show humility – and to be a sign to others.
The volunteer arrived at the vigil site to stand and pray. Passersby barely seemed to notice. But “after a while, I felt convicted to kneel in prayer.”
At first, there was fear of looking stupid, small and weak. But the fear soon melted. A short time later, this vigil participant looked up and began to notice the reactions of people driving by.
“It was very different now. I can best describe their facial expressions as stunned, surprised and intensely watching — sincerely amazed at what they were seeing. I realized it was jarring for them to see someone worshiping and appealing to God in such a public, humbling manner.”
The world views humbling oneself as a position of weakness. “Yet, by placing myself in a position of weakness, it became a position of strength: strength to witness; strength to pray more fervently; strength to stir the human heart.”
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ORLANDO, FLORIDA
——————————————————-The call to humble prayer is also being heard in Orlando, where the 40 Days for Life vigil is taking place outside a facility where late-term abortions are performed.
On a recent day, it is estimated that more than 30 abortions took place – well into the evening. Vigil participants say the atmosphere at this place is most disturbing.
“A peaceful prayer presence is so very needed,” said one 40 Days for Life participant. “Silent peaceful prayer is so necessary at the unhappiest place on earth.”
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CANTON, OHIO
——————————————————-David Bereit, the national director of 40 Days for Life, often asks people to consider this: “Many of us have worked jobs where we’ve put in 40 hours a week; why not try to put in 40 hours at the vigil over the course of 40 Days for Life?”
Daphne in Canton has responded to that call to sacrifice. “I am challenging you to something that I have challenged myself to during the 40 Days for Life campaign — to pray for 40 hours. I am calling it the 40 Hour Challenge,” she said. “I am inviting all of you to embrace the Cross and take up the 40 Hour Challenge.”
What to pray for? Daphne suggests praying for 40 Days for Life, for the campaign’s local and national leaders, for everyone making the sacrifice to pray at the abortion centers, for all those pondering abortion and all those affected by abortion. “The list goes on and on,” she said.
Just in case you haven’t checked the list of 247 locations where 40 Days for Life vigils are going on TODAY, please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/location.cfm
Click here to read today’s devotional.
Click here to download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends.
Yours for Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for LifePS: Any miracles at your 40 Days for Life vigil? Please share them with everyone by posting a comment below.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 15th, 2011 at 3:01 am and is filed under 2011 Spring Campaign, 40 Days for Life, Devotionals. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
DAY 7: Humble yourself and pray | 40 Days for Life
