From 40 Days For Life: DAY 9: "Can't I just pray at home?"

Dear Deacon John, Many hear about 40 Days for Life and respond: "God hears our prayers wherever we are. I can stay home and pray." Of course ... and we need to do that first and foremost. But the urgency of abortion calls us to take Christ to the darkest corners of our culture ... just as millions of missionaries have done throughout the 2,000 year history of Christianity. Let me tell you a story.

This simple sign with the message "choose life" is a popular one for 40 Days for Life volunteers in Cluj-Napoca. Romania. And it's a life saver. A young woman – a high school student – was on her way for an abortion because she didn't want her mother to find out she was pregnant. Her boyfriend was also pressuring her to abort. But when she arrived for the abortion, "I saw this banner, this one with this little blue-eyed baby," she said. "I felt I did not want the abortion and I wanted this baby." She and the friend who accompanied her then started a conversation with two women at the 40 Days for Life vigil who promised their support and connected her with others who could help. When the young woman returned home, the child's father increased his pressure. But she told him she would be having the baby, and he could either accept that or leave. A few days later, he came to her in tears ... asking for forgiveness. The meeting with the two women would have never happened – and the child might not be alive today – if those volunteers had chosen to pray at home instead of at the vigil. It does make a difference!

Waco, Texas When John, the 40 Days for Life coordinator in Waco, went to check on the vigil, he found "two lovely families praying and playing together." The new Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Waco is on a heavily-traveled highway. "Our prayer vigil and signs are clearly in the public square at this location," John said. "This gives us a major opportunity to deliver on the community outreach goal of 40 Days for Life." He said the sight of children at the vigil sends a very strong message. "The elderly guy in the photo with the children is me," said John. "I find 40 Days for Life to be a very invigorating experience."

Wellington, New Zealand Each morning, three young children walk past the 40 Days for Life vigil in Wellington on their way to school – two boys and a girl. "The first day, the girl tried to understand what we were doing," said Clare in Wellington. "With words and actions, I tried to explain that we are praying for mothers and babies." A few days later, Clare was praying outside the hospital where abortions take place when a small voice called out, "Hello! Hello!" It was the little girl. "She handed me a yellow rose and then followed her 'brothers' up the hospital path. The boys also had roses in their hands, stopped and planted them in the garden," Clare said. "It was so beautiful to witness their innocence and simple offering."

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. —John 1:14 Heavenly Father, I thank you for your love and saving grace in Christ Jesus. Help us to realize every day the great blessing we have in our Savior. I pray that we will rise every morning with excitement and zeal, looking forward to walking another day in your footsteps fully knowing that you continue to dwell among us. 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