Dear Deacon, Let's face it. We need the full armor of God! With some of the things people have had to deal with
while peacefully praying for an end to abortion, it's
important to remember this is a spiritual battle. People praying at the vigil have seen the occasional
negative reaction -- rude words and gestures from
people driving by, for instance. But thankfully, the
Lord provides His grace so we may respond to such
anger with Christ-like love.
-----------------------------------------------------
CANTON, OHIO
----------------------------------------------------- There's a sign-carrying protester who yells at vigil
participants in Canton. Among other things, he insists
that Planned Parenthood does not do abortions. True, Planned Parenthood does not do abortions at all
of its facilities -- but the nation's largest abortion
chain most certainly refers abortion-minded women to
other locations ... and its annual abortion toll is
330,000. Volunteers tried to explain Planned Parenthood's
agenda, but he wouldn't listen. "The devil is lying
to you," he screamed. "They do good things here." He
refused to take literature -- "propaganda," he called
it -- and shouted that people praying outside the
abortion center faced eternal punishment "for bearing
false witness." When a large prayer group's vigil time ended and
they were preparing to go, he yelled at them, "Is
your party over?" Linda, the coordinator in Canton, said this man
clearly "needs our prayers. We pray that the Holy
Spirit will enlighten him to the true purpose of
Planned Parenthood," she said. "Pray that we continue
to show the love of Jesus with everyone we meet at
Planned Parenthood." To see one of the signs the Canton protester carries,
please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3512
-----------------------------------------------------
SEVILLE, SPAIN
----------------------------------------------------- A woman walked up to one of the prayer volunteers and
looked at her "pray for an end to abortion" sign. “How
brutal," she said. "The law is the law." The woman grabbed the sign, snarled that this was
harassment -- and broke the sign. "I said that I was
not harassing anybody, but was only peacefully praying,"
the volunteer said. As she went into the abortion center, the angry woman
said she was going to call the police. "I called the
police," said the vigil participant, "and they told me
I wasn't infringing any law." After a while, the woman came out. "She told me she
was a psychologist and that we were inflicting a lot
of damage on women who were going to freely abort
their children with defects," said the 40 Days for
Life participant. "In Seville we are very much alone," she said. "I
saw the devil in the eyes of those people and in the
people at the doorway who laughed at me while shaking
their heads with hateful grimaces."
-----------------------------------------------------
RENO, NEVADA
----------------------------------------------------- Last week, I mentioned the pointy yucca plants
outside an abortion center in Atlanta. That reminded
me that the abortionist in Reno has a row of very
prickly cactus plants along the fence at his business. Despite the cactus -- and professionally-printed signs
with messages such as "Pray to end sidewalk bullying"
-- praying, even at this place, can be a very peaceful
experience. The presence of the Holy Spirit can be
felt despite it all. To see the fence, the cactus plants -- and young people
peacefully praying at the Reno vigil along with a baby
in a stroller, go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3512
Here's today's devotional from Carmen Pate, a member
of the 40 Days for Life board of directors.
-----------------------------------------------------
DAY 21 INTENTION
----------------------------------------------------- Pray that we each will daily put on the full armor of
God, so that we are strong in the Lord and the power
of His might.
-----------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
----------------------------------------------------- For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual
hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you
may be able to withstand in the evil day and having
done all, to stand. - Ephesians 6:12-13
-----------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Carmen Pate, 40 Days for Life
----------------------------------------------------- I am confounded to see how the battle over the issue
of life is perceived more often in churches today as
political rather than spiritual. Ironically, the
enemy has used this twisted perception to silence
many in the body of Christ. We must see the battle for what it is and if we are
to be prepared to face the spiritual enemy on the
issue of abortion, we must daily "put on" the armor
God has given us: Gird your waist with Truth (vs. 14) -- Commit your
emotions to believe truth and to speak truth,
regardless of the repercussions. Put on the breastplate of Righteousness (vs. 14) -It
will protect our hearts -- the innermost springs of
our beings -- from all unrighteousness so evident in
this fallen world. Shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of
Peace. (vs. 15) -- Preparation is vital if we are to
be effective in God's work. Taking the shield of faith (vs.16) -- The Accuser
will instill doubt, fear, and guilt. Faith acts as
an invisible shield that deflects such false
accusations. Taking the Helmet of salvation (vs.17) -- A helmet
protects the head, the brain and in turn our mind and
thoughts. Satan hopes we will set aside divine
revelation for human reasoning. Taking the sword of the Spirit (vs.17) -- The Word of
God, the only offensive weapon in this armor, was
used by the Lord Jesus against Satan. The living Word
is powerful and effective. Our armor is complete. We are ready to wage war, and
the next verse tells us how, "Praying always with all
prayer and supplication in the spirit." (vs.18)
-----------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
----------------------------------------------------- Dear Lord, as you lead us into the spiritual battle
of abortion may we be reminded that the battle is
truly Yours. We thank you for equipping us with Your
armor. Lead us daily to put it on! Thank you for allowing us to serve under your
command, and for hearing our requests for direction
and protection. Thank you for the victory that is
ours because of Your Son, Jesus, Amen.
-----------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
----------------------------------------------------- To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2012day21print.pdf ----------------------------------------------------- For Life, Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life PS: Please keep the stories coming! If something
great is happening with your 40 Days for Life
campaign, please leave a comment on today's
blog posting at: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3512 40 Days for Life 10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
while peacefully praying for an end to abortion, it's
important to remember this is a spiritual battle. People praying at the vigil have seen the occasional
negative reaction -- rude words and gestures from
people driving by, for instance. But thankfully, the
Lord provides His grace so we may respond to such
anger with Christ-like love.
-----------------------------------------------------
CANTON, OHIO
----------------------------------------------------- There's a sign-carrying protester who yells at vigil
participants in Canton. Among other things, he insists
that Planned Parenthood does not do abortions. True, Planned Parenthood does not do abortions at all
of its facilities -- but the nation's largest abortion
chain most certainly refers abortion-minded women to
other locations ... and its annual abortion toll is
330,000. Volunteers tried to explain Planned Parenthood's
agenda, but he wouldn't listen. "The devil is lying
to you," he screamed. "They do good things here." He
refused to take literature -- "propaganda," he called
it -- and shouted that people praying outside the
abortion center faced eternal punishment "for bearing
false witness." When a large prayer group's vigil time ended and
they were preparing to go, he yelled at them, "Is
your party over?" Linda, the coordinator in Canton, said this man
clearly "needs our prayers. We pray that the Holy
Spirit will enlighten him to the true purpose of
Planned Parenthood," she said. "Pray that we continue
to show the love of Jesus with everyone we meet at
Planned Parenthood." To see one of the signs the Canton protester carries,
please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3512
-----------------------------------------------------
SEVILLE, SPAIN
----------------------------------------------------- A woman walked up to one of the prayer volunteers and
looked at her "pray for an end to abortion" sign. “How
brutal," she said. "The law is the law." The woman grabbed the sign, snarled that this was
harassment -- and broke the sign. "I said that I was
not harassing anybody, but was only peacefully praying,"
the volunteer said. As she went into the abortion center, the angry woman
said she was going to call the police. "I called the
police," said the vigil participant, "and they told me
I wasn't infringing any law." After a while, the woman came out. "She told me she
was a psychologist and that we were inflicting a lot
of damage on women who were going to freely abort
their children with defects," said the 40 Days for
Life participant. "In Seville we are very much alone," she said. "I
saw the devil in the eyes of those people and in the
people at the doorway who laughed at me while shaking
their heads with hateful grimaces."
-----------------------------------------------------
RENO, NEVADA
----------------------------------------------------- Last week, I mentioned the pointy yucca plants
outside an abortion center in Atlanta. That reminded
me that the abortionist in Reno has a row of very
prickly cactus plants along the fence at his business. Despite the cactus -- and professionally-printed signs
with messages such as "Pray to end sidewalk bullying"
-- praying, even at this place, can be a very peaceful
experience. The presence of the Holy Spirit can be
felt despite it all. To see the fence, the cactus plants -- and young people
peacefully praying at the Reno vigil along with a baby
in a stroller, go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3512
Here's today's devotional from Carmen Pate, a member
of the 40 Days for Life board of directors.
-----------------------------------------------------
DAY 21 INTENTION
----------------------------------------------------- Pray that we each will daily put on the full armor of
God, so that we are strong in the Lord and the power
of His might.
-----------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
----------------------------------------------------- For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual
hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you
may be able to withstand in the evil day and having
done all, to stand. - Ephesians 6:12-13
-----------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Carmen Pate, 40 Days for Life
----------------------------------------------------- I am confounded to see how the battle over the issue
of life is perceived more often in churches today as
political rather than spiritual. Ironically, the
enemy has used this twisted perception to silence
many in the body of Christ. We must see the battle for what it is and if we are
to be prepared to face the spiritual enemy on the
issue of abortion, we must daily "put on" the armor
God has given us: Gird your waist with Truth (vs. 14) -- Commit your
emotions to believe truth and to speak truth,
regardless of the repercussions. Put on the breastplate of Righteousness (vs. 14) -It
will protect our hearts -- the innermost springs of
our beings -- from all unrighteousness so evident in
this fallen world. Shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of
Peace. (vs. 15) -- Preparation is vital if we are to
be effective in God's work. Taking the shield of faith (vs.16) -- The Accuser
will instill doubt, fear, and guilt. Faith acts as
an invisible shield that deflects such false
accusations. Taking the Helmet of salvation (vs.17) -- A helmet
protects the head, the brain and in turn our mind and
thoughts. Satan hopes we will set aside divine
revelation for human reasoning. Taking the sword of the Spirit (vs.17) -- The Word of
God, the only offensive weapon in this armor, was
used by the Lord Jesus against Satan. The living Word
is powerful and effective. Our armor is complete. We are ready to wage war, and
the next verse tells us how, "Praying always with all
prayer and supplication in the spirit." (vs.18)
-----------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
----------------------------------------------------- Dear Lord, as you lead us into the spiritual battle
of abortion may we be reminded that the battle is
truly Yours. We thank you for equipping us with Your
armor. Lead us daily to put it on! Thank you for allowing us to serve under your
command, and for hearing our requests for direction
and protection. Thank you for the victory that is
ours because of Your Son, Jesus, Amen.
-----------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
----------------------------------------------------- To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2012day21print.pdf ----------------------------------------------------- For Life, Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life PS: Please keep the stories coming! If something
great is happening with your 40 Days for Life
campaign, please leave a comment on today's
blog posting at: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3512 40 Days for Life 10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
