For You From The Word
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV )
For You To Think About
In the Bible, God used 40-day periods to prepare people and transform them: Noah’s 40 days of rain to prepare his family to resettle the world (Genesis 7); Moses’ 40 days on the mountain with God to prepare him to lead the people to follow God’s law (Exodus 24); Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness to prepare Him for ministry (Matthew 4); and Jesus’ 40 days on earth after the resurrection to prepare His disciples to launch the early church (Acts 1).
When God’s people accept and meet a 40-day challenge, He uses it to change their lives.
The 40 Days for Life movement, launched in 2004, follows this 40-day biblical model. Two times a year, local volunteers organize 40-day campaigns focused on the spiritual aspects of the battle for life, consisting of prayer vigils and fasting outside of clinics and hospitals that perform abortions.
How does God use these 40-day periods to change lives ? During the first ten years, campaign leaders reported 8,973 lives saved from abortion, 101 abortion workers quit the industry, and 54 abortion facilities have closed.
For You To Pray
Gracious Father,
I call out to You on behalf of my nation and the world, asking Your forgiveness for our callous view of life. I humbly ask that you change hearts and heal us, both during 40 Days for Life and afterwards.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
More Ways God Uses 40 Days
“I’m Just One Person” Joining With Others for 40 Days
40 Days for Life: Find a Vigil Near You