From 40 Days For Life: DAY 12: "But nobody's there"

Dear Deacon John, Many people are praying at 40 Days for Life vigils on Sunday. It's part of what one local campaign leader calls "an unbroken chain of prayer." Forty days of uninterrupted vigil is a sign of faith ... a sign of commitment ... and a sign to the community.

A sign of faith: You believe that God can – and in fact will – end the scandal of abortion in your city. A sign of commitment: You're out there day and night ... regardless of the weather. Ending abortion is important to you. A sign to the community: You want your neighbors to know that abortion does happen in your town. Not all of them know. And not all of them know where it takes place. And some of them may only drive through that area at night or on the weekend. It can also be a blessing ... to you! So many prayer volunteers say the vigil is a time of personal spiritual growth – and that can be enhanced in the solitude of a quiet hour on Sunday after church.

West Covina, California "I loved being there in the evening," said one of the 40 Days for Life volunteers in West Covina. "There was a type of peace," the vigil participant said. "Maybe because the clinic was closed!" That evening, emergency vehicles were seen heading to the nearby hospital. It felt good knowing the medical teams were doing their best to save lives "while we were doing the same on the sidewalk." "The abortion place looks desolate at night," said one of the campaign coordinators, who also offered another great reason to go pray when the abortion center is closed: "To be out there praying, it gives you the sensation of how it will feel when that place closes for good!"

Grand Rapids, Michigan Laura, the 40 Days for Life coordinator in Grand Rapids, wanted all the volunteers to know their "prayers on the sidewalk in front of Heritage Abortion Clinic are having a quiet, but positive, impact on our community." The vigil is attracting more people to pray who had never done anything like this before. People are stopping to pray as they walk past. Others simply stop to ask what's going on. "Word of 40 Days for Life is spreading," Laura said. "As a result, more people are becoming concerned about the killing in our midst. More people are wanting to get involved." So keep praying! Your presence does make a difference.

My power is made perfect in weakness. —2 Corinthians 12:9 Lord, during these forty days, we ask that with each day of this sacred vigil, everything in us that separates us from your perfect will would be pruned from our hearts and souls. In this blessed freedom may we experience a powerful anointing of your Holy Spirit. See today's full devotional

For life,

Shawn Carney President/CEO, 40 Days for Life

40 Days for Life 4112 E 29th St. Bryan, Texas 77802 United States (888) LIFE-316