From 40 Days For Life: DAY 27: God's ways are not ours

Ready to start the week with extremely encouraging news? Here it is! 40 Days for Life campaign leaders tell us that so far this campaign … … 289 babies have been spared from abortion – that we know of! We can only wonder how many mothers have turned away from abortion that only God knows about. Since He's a good and merciful God … we have to believe there are many more! Here are a few of the ones we DO know about.

Yuba City, California "Praise the Lord!" said one of the California leaders. "Two babies were saved from abortion at the Yuba City 40 Days for Life!" Both of these young women went to Planned Parenthood for pregnancy tests. They were being pressured … feeling distraught … and considering the abortion pill. Thankfully, one of the volunteers was able to provide life-affirming encouragement – giving the women information about fetal development, directing them to a pro-life pregnancy help center and exchanging contact information so they could get back in touch. One of the women did just that, sending back a text message after her visit to the help center. "Thank you again!" she wrote. "I'm so incredibly thankful you guys were out there that day. You guys knew the exact words to make me feel better. And I knew you guys would as soon as I pulled up. God really does work in such amazing ways!"

Austin, Texas Austin is taking part in 40 Days for Life for the 19th time … pausing at the mid-point of the campaign for a candlelight vigil "to give thanks for the blessings we've seen … to be motivated … and to pray for all of those affected by abortion." And those blessings include "four moms (so far) that had scheduled an abortion but changed their minds and chose life," said Heather in Austin. There have been dozens more that have stopped to talk to counselors. Heather noted a common theme from the women they’ve spoken to. "'It's so expensive here!' is what we keep hearing about the abortion facilities," she said. "Your presence matters!"

Portland, Oregon "We had a turnaround!" said Therese in Portland. A mother arrived at the abortion center with her teenage daughter. "I saw them go in," Therese said, "but wasn't able to hand them any information." About an hour and a half later, the mom came back out. "When I asked if I could give her any resources, she said no, she didn't need any. She said her daughter had changed her mind." "She didn't do it!" the mother said. "She decided not to do it." She also said it was a hard decision for her daughter. "It's the father that's the problem," she murmured. The volunteers promised to help … and to pray. The mother and daughter left smiling.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. — Philippians 2:5-8 O Lord, help us follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Let us humbly and diligently work to restore legal protection for the unborn, the disabled, the medically dependent and all innocent children of God whose lives are threatened. Let us remember the old adage that "He can never lead who has not first learned to obey." And, Lord, grant us a peaceful heart as we labor in your name. See today's full devotional

For life,

Shawn Carney President, 40 Days for Life

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