Dear Deacon John,
Last week, Planned Parenthood asked its backers to show up to support the abortion giant. For the most part, the event fizzled out because of a rapidly growing trend ... one that should encourage you.
That trend is the drastic decline in the number of people who are willing to publicly stand up for “abortion rights” at the local level.
As a result, the “pro-choice” movement is dying ... but pro-life involvement at the local level is at an all-time high – and getting younger each year!
We have certainly seen this in 40 Days for Life ... and we see it every year at March for Lifethe in Washington, where hundreds of thousands defend life each year, as well as at the newer-but-rapidly-growing West Coast Walk for Lifein San Francisco, with its tens of thousands of participants.
Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry couldn’t get a fraction of those numbers to take a stand for their cause – and the recent baby part trafficking videos haven’t helped.
They have polarized even their own supporters. Their events lack substance... and some have even morphed into mock 40 Days for Life events.
This is a growing theme – and it should been seen as a compliment!
Gainesville, Florida
Jazmin in Gainesville says the 40 Days for Life vigil there is held outside an abortion center called Bread and Roses.
“They were one of the two abortion centers recently fined by the state for doingillegal second-trimester abortions,” she said. “They were fined $2,500; but of course, they are appealing.”
Their argument seems to be that they were singled out because of the recent investigations of Planned Parenthood. “They are obviously feeling the heat coming from the bad exposure Planned Parenthood is receiving.”
After volunteers in Gainesville had a pro-life chalk day, vigil participants arrived early the next morning to find a sign taped to a tree outside: “Pray to end sidewalk bullying.”
The sign featured the logo of the pro-abortion group Faith Aloud. If that rings a bell, we’ve talked about them before. These are the people that came up with the mockery of our 40 Days for Life devotionals – “40 Days of Prayer to Keep Abortion Safe and Legal.”
As for the abortion center staff, “they are definitely under duress with our peaceful, prayerful presence,” Jazmin said.
Overland Park, Kansas
“It's a wonderful blessing to see young men and women praying on the sidewalk outside an abortion facility,” said Wendy, the 40 Days for Life coordinator in Overland Park.
Four high schools and young adult ministries have adopted days on the sidewalk to pray for the ending of abortion. “The entire football team of St. James Academy came to pray on the sidewalk prior to going to one of their games,” she said – adding that they won the game.
“Abortion will end because of young ones like these who take their faith seriously,” Wendy said, “and are willing to take a public stand for the sake of the unborn.”
Today’s devotional is from Carmen Pate of Alliance Ministries.
Day 14 intention
Pray that the abortionists and all workers in abortion facilities would be troubled in their souls regarding their work and would seek truth.
Scripture
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.
— Ephesians 4:31-32
Reflection by Carmen Pate
We see the evil and oppression in the world, the arrogance of those who mock God, the millions of innocent lives destroyed because of the greed of a few.
Our flesh tells us that we should take justice in our own hands, but instead of vengeance, the Lord calls us to love our enemy, to forgive others as we have been forgiven.
God loves the abortionist and the Planned Parenthood advocate just as much as He loves you.
It breaks His heart to see them in bondage to sin and He is giving you this opportunity to introduce them to the Savior who sets the captive free.
Though you may not experience direct interaction with these souls, your presence will not go unnoticed. Your non-verbal communications speak volumes about the God you serve.
Forgiveness is an act of obedience to God (Colossians 3:13). Forgiveness is not condoning or overlooking the wrong behavior of others, but rather it is freeing ourselves so that God can work mightily through us to touch their hearts for Him.
Let's join our hearts with His in recognizing that those in the abortion industry are not the enemy, but rather they are blinded by the enemy.
God desires that we bring them the message of truth and hope found in Christ, but the messengers He will use are those willing to forgive.
Prayer
Dearest God, You tell us in Proverbs that the foolish and the wicked lack wisdom and understanding. I pray you will trouble the souls of those in the abortion industry so that they hunger for truth and cry out for freedom.
I pray that my life would reflect my redemption so others may see it and trust in You. In obedience to You, and by your grace, I choose to forgive others as you have forgiven me. In the name of Christ my Redeemer I pray, Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/media/day14.pdf
For life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
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