DAY 18 : The Issue of Life - Turning Hearts Toward the Unborn
DEVOTIONAL
Perhaps no other issue is more critical in our nation and in our day, than this one issue. God is bringing it to the forefront, before the eyes and conscience of a nation, to such a degree that we can no longer remain neutral. If we do not side with God on this issue, He will begin to oppose us and He will begin to remove His Spirit from our midst.
According to the Word of God, life begins in the womb:
For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well. My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.
- Psalm 139:13-16 (HCSB)
These verses tell us that while children may have been “unplanned” by their parents, once they are conceived, all of their days are being written and planned by our God, before even a single one comes to pass!
As Malachi 4:5-6 tells us, there must be a turning of the hearts of the fathers and mothers to the children, even if those fathers and mothers are in their teenage years. Especially among young people who have unexpectedly become parents, but also among the older generation, there must be a shift in the minds and hearts of a generation regarding the issue of life in the womb.
While we must never condone immorality within the Church, we must also not add the guilt of innocent bloodshed on top of this – for with such sins, an entire nation is in danger before the eyes of the Holy One, whose name is also Go’el – “the Avenger of Blood.”
With over 63 million innocent children who have been aborted in the womb since 1973, their blood literally cries out from the ground to the Father in heaven. (Gen. 4:10-11) We must, in turn, cry out for mercy over our land and plead the blood of Jesus to wash away the bloodguilt of our generation.
PRAYER RESPONSE:
We come before Your throne of grace boldly, seeking mercy for our time of need. (Heb. 4:16) We know that we can only approach such a holy place through the blood of Your Son, Jesus (Heb. 10:19-20) – the pure and spotless Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. (John 1:29) We plead the blood of Jesus over [ your family, ministry, community, nation ], especially over the sins of sexual immorality and the shedding of innocent blood. We know that Your Word clearly reveals that both of these sins cause a defilement to come upon the land. (Num. 35:33; Lev. 18:24-28) We’re asking that even as we begin to humble ourselves, to pray, to seek Your face, and to turn from our wicked ways, we are believing that You will hear from heaven, forgive our sins and heal our land! (2 Chron. 7:14)
Turn the hearts of young fathers and mothers toward their children, even of their families toward them. (Mal. 4:5-6) We pray for young men and women who are unexpectedly discovering they are parents, especially those outside of the marriage covenant. We pray that You would meet them in those secret places of anxiety, fear, shame and isolation, and that You would release Your Spirit of healing and restoration. In the name of Jesus, we declare the power of fear and shame is being broken, that it has no place in their hearts, and is no longer allowed to keep them in darkness. Rather, give them courage to confess their sins and bring them into the light, that they would receive mercy and complete forgiveness! (Prov. 28:13; 1 John 1:9) Give this young generation the gift of a clean conscience before God and man, and the strength to do what is right before Your eyes.
We pray for safe places for these young people to go, to find the support they need through family, friends and other believers. We pray for words of life, hope, strength and healing to be given to these young parents at strategic moments. Through these words, rescue the lives of children in the womb and bring courage to young people to keep their children.
We ask that through supernatural intervention (dreams, visions, words, divine appointments) that You would begin to reveal to young parents the purposes, plans and prophetic destiny that You have for their child in the womb! (Jeremiah 1:5) Let them begin to see glimpses into their child’s future calling, and through this, let them begin to see their own holy calling to bring forth this child into the world, and to raise him or her up in the ways of God! Instead of self-preservation, let them choose to lay down their lives for the next generation.
Father, would You pour out the Spirit of Elijah upon this generation – to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers. We call forth a shift in the mind and heart of a generation, regarding the issue of life in the womb. Give Your people courage to side with You and to stand for life and for truth in this nation. In the mighty name of Jesus, amen!
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Excerpted from 21 Days of Prayer for Colleges and Universities by Chris Ngai and BridgeBuilders International, (c) 2021 by BridgeBuilders International, pp 38-39. Used with permission.