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March 23, 2010

Day 35 - March 23

Intention:

Pray that all believers participating in 40 Days for Life will make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3).

Scripture:

And the glory which You gave Me, I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

-- John 17:22-23

Reflection:

Christ prayed that all those who would believe in Him would be united in single purpose and spirit, just as He and the Father were united.

I find it convicting to consider that those who would run to Jesus with their sins, seeking forgiveness, and falling in love with the Savior, often run from Christians today. Is it because they see division and dissension instead of unity and peace?

No doubt Christ is pleased to see the body unified and praying together during these 40 days. This is exactly what we see when we read about the beginnings of the church. Both the unity and the prayer are conspicuous, along with the results of unified prayer.

Acts 2:46-47 tells us, "So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."

No doubt the enemy is disheartened to see the unity in prayer, fasting and peaceful vigil, and he will continuously try to disrupt the bond of peace among brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us guard our hearts and minds, exhibiting the love of Christ that He so graciously gives us, so that those watching will see the love among us and know that He must love them too!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, give us grace in every situation to work toward unity. With humility, gentleness, and patience, may we endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There are hurting men and women Lord at the crossroads of life and death who are looking for love and peace in their lives. May they see Christ in us and be drawn to the abundant life that only He can give. It is in Christ's precious name that we pray, Amen.

Carmen Pate
Co-host, "Point of View" Talk Show

Today’s email:

As this 40 Days for Life campaign continues, the need
for prayer for an end to abortion grows clearer each
day — as does the need to pray for healing for those
whose lives have been turned upside down because of
their experiences with the pain caused by abortion.

Lynda said that through her efforts with 40 Days for
Life, she often meets both women and men “who come to
confess an earlier and much regretted decision to have
an abortion.”

She had one person tell her, “I always wonder what my
daughter’s sister would look like.”

“It’s so sad,” she said. “There are so many broken
hearts; so much emptiness. There was a person who came
to me in tears saying how sorry she was about her
decision so many years ago. We must continue to pray.”

Nancy’s story is typical of what many 40 Days for Life
vigil participants are hearing.

“I was pregnant — but not by the man I had lived with
for the previous years,” she said. An older friend —
whom she considered wiser and more experienced —
recommended abortion. “No one spoke for the life of
my preborn.”

Nancy is one of the millions who regret their
abortions. Thankfully, she found healing in Christ.

The message that healing is indeed possible is part
of the 40 Days for Life witness at many of the vigils.

There’s a photo of the 40 Days for Life vigil in
Everett, Washington that illustrates that. Prayer
volunteers are carrying signs from the Silent No More
Awareness Campaign (http://www.silentnomoreawareness.org)
that read, “Women do regret abortion” and “Men regret
lost fatherhood.”

To see the picture, go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=846

“Praying in front of Planned Parenthood has drawn me
closer to the cross than I’ve ever been before in my
life,” wrote Julie. “Twenty years ago, I had an abortion.
I never knew the power of prayer until now.”

For years, she said, the pain, shame and all that goes
with it had been buried deep within her. “This year,
God called me to 40 Days for Life and I was listening.”

She broke down while praying at the vigil. Two days
later, “I made a complete confession and turned my
life over to God, completely.

“I know I still have a long way to go in healing,”
Julie said, “but I can’t express what it feels like
to be forgiven. Thank you for your encouragement and
thanks to all of the participants of 40 Days for Life.
I could not have done this alone.”

“I was in the same situation some 30 years ago,”
explained Alicia. “I was filled with such unimaginable
guilt.” It took years for her to finally listen to God
and actually accept His forgiveness — and forgive
herself.

“I thank God that this beautiful ministry exists,” she
said, “and will continue until the end of abortion
comes to pass.”