Will You Pray? (Warning: Controversial Topic Ahead)
Warning: Controversial topic ahead.
My heart is heavy. There is a time to speak and a time to be silent (Ecclesiastes 3:7). And there are some things I, we, should not be silent about, things which clearly and blatantly go against God’s laws. Maybe it’s time to overturn some tables.
God’s commandments, whether one chooses to believe in Him or not, are the things that make our society decent, civilized and peaceful. Those
commandments were given to all for our good. For example:
You shall not murder. Exodus 20:13
You shall not commit adultery. Exodus 20:14
When we ignore and go against God’s commandments, we suffer consequences. Furthermore, we become desensitized, heartless and irresponsible, resulting in a lawless, unruly, chaotic society.
Sadly, this sounds much like our country today.
Desensitized – no conscience.
Heartless – no compassion.
Irresponsible – self-centered.
No thought of another human being; no respect for life – even if it’s a helpless infant.
Who have we become?
This is not a political, economic or social problem. We have a spiritual problem. We have shut God out of our society, and we are becoming what is described in the following verse as a result.
… men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…
2 Timothy 3:1-4 NKJV
2 Timothy 3:1-4 NKJV
Is this the world we want for our children and grandchildren?
Verse 6 goes on to talk about gullible women led away by various lusts… Let that sink in for a moment.
I will – we must – speak up for the helpless, voiceless unborn, whether we’re accused of intolerance or not. Do not let them call us intolerant; our silence and tolerance is precisely what has brought us to this point. (click to tweet)
Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
Proverbs 31:8 NKJV
My husband often comments that we have to save the turtles and protect the baby turtle eggs, yet we can abort our own fetuses. Our regard for animal life is remarkable, but what has happened to us when we have so little regard for human life?
… the Lord hates … hands that shed innocent blood …
Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV
I’ve had three children. I fell in love with each one long before they were born. I admit I don’t understand how a woman could carry a child inside her for nine months – feel it move, kick, hiccup; hear its heartbeat; find out the gender; even see its little face and its mouth sucking its thumb through ultrasound – and destroy it just before or after it is born. If it takes her that long to decide to abort, perhaps she shouldn’t? I’m not saying earlier makes it right; but a fully formed baby she’s carried for nine months? Or even one she’s birthed?
Listen to this further description…
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
Romans 1:28-31 ESV (emphasis mine)
What will the consequences be for us as a nation? (Be sure to watch the important video included at the end of this blog, which answers this question.)
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows,
that will he also reap. Galatians 6:7 NKJV
Additionally, there are emotional consequences after a woman has had an abortion.1 How much worse will the emotional ramifications be for women who terminate their babies late or full term, or more inconceivably, after birth?
We women DO have a choice what we do with our body. We can choose not to have sex outside of marriage. We can chooseto use birth control. We can chooseadoption (there are so many desperately waiting). Unselfish and hard choices, but nonetheless, choices.
But What gives women the right to choose what happens to that little body inside of their body? (click to tweet)
And Once that baby is out of the womb, how is that a choice of what a
woman does with her body? (click to tweet)
woman does with her body? (click to tweet)
That little body is not the woman’s body, inside or outside the womb.
That little body has a different blood type and an entirely separate DNA, even a completely different thumbprint. It is another, individual human being.2
I believe a women’s choice ends in the bedroom.
It’s not up to us to decide who gets to live and who has to die. (Job 1:21)
Maybe we’re all responsible for this unfathomable practice in a way. We’ve not only been too tolerant and silent, perhaps we’ve been too prayer-less. Perhaps we’ve been too busy to pay attention to what’s happening in the world, too busy to read and know our Bibles, too busy to spend enough fervent time in prayer for the situations that face our society (studies show only 12% pray for our country3). I hear all the time that people don’t have time for fervent prayer and reading their Bibles.* Yet, we find time for other things – our workouts, spa appointments, and our favorite sports or reality TV shows. And what about shopping for that latest fad so we can keep up with the proverbial Joneses?
So, what can we do now?
- First, we can resolve to pray. We must pray. I cannot stress enough how important this is. Will you commit to pray for our country and its leaders? (1 Timothy 2:1-2) Will you pray for women with unwanted pregnancies to do the right thing?
- Second, we can turn back to God and His ways. The Bible tells us, 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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV. We can turn to the Lord in prayer and read His word consistently to have personal revival. Can you imagine if we all did this?
- We can also speak up, get involved and/or make applicable donations. 4 How is your church or organization supporting pregnant and unwed mothers? How can you get involved or start something to help these women? (There are CareNet centers all over the country (www.care-net.org) with which you can partner.
- Will you call or write your senators? Let’s flood the U.S. Capitol Switchboard! (202-224-3121)
- You can sign a pledge against abortion and infanticide here: https://www.care-net.org/ You can sign the Declaration for Life here: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/pro-life
- I received a request recently to pray for our country at 9 pm (Eastern time) every night. My alarm is set. Will you set yours?
There is power in prayer:
If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:14 NKJV
God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think… Ephesians 3:20 NKJV
But let it not be said of us:
You do not have because you do not ask. James 4:2 NKJV
Lord, forgive us our debts…
For further consideration, I implore you to watch the following video.
What about you? What other ideas do you have to be proactive and change the course of this heartbreaking situation? Join the conversation in the comments. (Only positive, helpful comments, please.)
If you have had an abortion: God loves you, no matter what you have done. Nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). Please know there is forgiveness through Jesus Christ. The Bible says in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Peace and freedom is found through Him. We are invited to “come confidently to His throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). I encourage you to ask His forgiveness, and then read Psalm 51.
If you are pregnantand don’t know what to do, there is loving help and support available. Call Care Net at (800) 518-7909.
Thank You, Lord, for Your love, grace and mercy.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.
Psalm 33:12 NKJV
Thank you for reading this heartfelt blog. Will you pray for our country and pray for revival? We all can pray more.
*Please watch for my book Pursuing PRAYER coming this fall. You can follow my blog for updates (see “follow” on the right). Thanks for stopping by and God bless!