Speak up for those
who have no voice, for the justice of all who are dispossessed. Speak up, judge
righteously, and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9
This past Sunday was Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. On this day we, as a church, declare our
belief that human life is of inestimable worth and significance in all its
dimensions, including the unborn, the aged, the widowed, the mentally
handicapped, the unattractive, the physically challenged and every other
condition in which humanness is expressed from conception to the grave. We believe life is sacred. It is
sad that we even have to express our belief in the sanctity or holiness of life. It seems that all life should be considered
valuable. But we live in a culture that,
much to our shame, has largely adopted a "quality of life" view. This
is not a new view in our country, nor is it a new struggle and it is not
getting any easier.
As Christians, more recently it seems, we have been targeted
for our beliefs. I fear that all we
deemed sacred before, we must hold even more closely to our hearts and defend
even more fiercely. One of the most
powerful weapons we have as Christians is the power of prayer. This week we will focus on ways we can pray
for the vulnerable, weak, disabled, and the ones who cannot speak for
themselves.
Perhaps the group we think of first when we hear “Sanctity of Human Life” is the unborn
babies. So many babies die every day because they were “unplanned”. It is ironic that an unplanned pregnancy is
what brought salvation to you and me. It
was God’s plan but it certainly was not Mary’s plan to become pregnant as a
virgin and bear the Savior of the World.
She experienced shame and risk as did Joseph as he followed through on
God’s plan to take her as his wife anyway and accept responsibility for this
child. But thank goodness they did. This unplanned pregnancy changed the world.
Today focus your
prayers for the unborn; those who have no say or choice about their lives and are completely
vulnerable to another’s choice about whether or not they live or die.
PRAYER FOCUS: THE
UNBORN (Adapted from Intercessors for America website)
Pray, asking the Holy Spirit to strengthen your faith walk
with Christ, so that you may be used to impact those in your sphere of
influence to embrace a love for the sanctity of human life in unreasonable ways
that are accompanied with practical actions, supporting pro-life ministries in
your community. (Matthew 25:31-40)
Are there ways that you think of yourself or others as
expendable? Examine your heart. Ask God to search your "innermost, hidden" part, to try you and
see if there is any wicked way in you. (Psalm 51:6,
Psalm 139:24) Pray that the Lord shows you ways that He can transform
your thinking to see yourself and others as beautiful, loved by Abba Father,
and made in His image.
Intercede for the principal persons involved in every
abortion decision. These would include the expectant mother and father, who are
often frightened and confused, other "advisors," and the abortion
perpetrators. The womb is the most dangerous place in America, and the only
legal ways the Church can intervene is by intercession and counseling, where
possible. Encourage your church and community with the message that life begins
at conception. Pray through Psalm 139.
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
