… 139! That’s how many mothers have chosen life so far during this 40 Days for Life campaign – that we know of!
Dear Deacon John,
It’s always amazing to see the reports that come in from 40 Days for Life team leaders around the world. No matter the location – and no matter the language – the fact that people are peacefully praying outside the abortion center has an impact.
Many times, just the sight of a single person silently in prayer is enough to reach a woman’s conscience … right as she’s walking in for an abortion.
God indeed works in mysterious ways! We just need to ask. Here are just a few of the 139 examples:
Mexico City, Mexico
Several reports of lives spared from abortion have come in from the Mexico City campaigns, where volunteers have watched as women begin to have second thoughts.
A couple parked near the abortion center, but as they walked closer, the woman saw the people praying. She told the man she didn’t dare go in. And besides, she wasn’t sick, so why go to a clinic?
Another couple stopped to talk to a seminarian who was praying at the vigil. The man stayed to talk, but the woman went inside. After a bit of conversation, the man went in and got his girlfriend. They both left the abortion center, and thanked the seminarian and the other volunteers for being there.
Still a third couple pulled up. The man got out of the car, but the woman refused to. He tried his best to convince her to go in, but she wouldn’t budge. They talked for a while longer, then drove away.
Said Lourdes in Mexico City, “God keeps showing us his mercy.”
Manchester, England
The Manchester team reports that thus far during this campaign, they know offour lives saved.
John says in one instance, a young mother of four arrived with a friend – a friend who was against the abortion. The two spoke to a counselor for some time, then entered the building for their appointment.
Later, as they were leaving, the mother said she was keeping her baby. “She joyfully accepted our gift for the impending arrival,” John said.
There have been other signs that the Manchester campaign is affecting business at the abortion center.
“Towards late evening,” he said, “a senior member of staff, on her way out of the clinic, told us to ‘remove THAT box – it’s offensive!’” She said if “that box” was there again the next day, she would call the police.
“That box” held a model of a baby at 18 weeks’ gestation.
Austin, Texas
Heather in Austin had a quick word of encouragement for the 40 Days for Life prayer volunteers: “What you are doing is working!”
Two pregnancy help center directors said they are seeing an increase in clients since the campaign started. “I just received a call from one young lady who went to Planned Parenthood for a pregnancy test but saw our free pregnancy tests / free sonograms sign. She stopped to talk to a counselor, took a brochure – and went elsewhere!”
One of the counselors spoke to another woman, who was about to go get an abortion. They talked … and the woman changed her mind and left.
“Keep up the great work,” Heather said. “God is good!”
Here's today's devotional from Randolph Sly of the National Pro-life Religious Council.
Day 13 intention
For all fathers who are terrified of being fathers.
Scripture
A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation.
— Psalm 68:5
Reflection from Randolph Sly
I had a friend many years ago who confided in me that he was terrified of being a father. He and his wife already had two children when this revelation came forth. "I never knew my father," he explained, "and I have no idea what a father is supposed to do."
We continued to share about this, as well as pray together. He began to see he had a father's heart for his children. His biggest problem was not a limitation on love but not knowing how to act out this love.
One day we talked about the verse quoted at the top of this page. I shared that he did know his Father... not his biological father but his Heavenly Father, who had rescued him from a life of destruction not many years before.
"How did your Heavenly Father guide you?" I asked. He talked about the ways he had seen God's love offered to him and the way the Lord had used circumstances and the Scriptures to mold him and mature him. "Well, the Lord wants to do the same thing through you for your children. Be available to His love and available to your kids. You'll do fine."
How wonderful it is to know that God takes a personal interest in each of us, many times using His faithful people – the Church – as channels of this love. No one is fatherless who lives in the Lord. His fatherly care begins at the moment of our conception, as it is written, "you knit me together in my mother's womb" (Psalm 139:12), and continues to be poured upon us throughout our lives.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank you for caring about each of us so deeply. Help us to see and know you as our Father in heaven each and every day of our lives.
Your loving hand also rests on every child today carried in its mother's womb. May they be born into this world and come to know fully and personally your endless love. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/media/day13.pdf
For life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
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