On a chilly and windy evening in January, a group of 12 Christians from various churches and denominations assembled under the twinkling sky of Moultrie to commence the first 40 days of prayer. The prayers for this campaign are centered around the sacredness of human life. The event began with a message from John Norman, based on the scripture taken from Psalm 139:7-18.
“Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there, your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.”
The general agreement is that we must acknowledge the “imago dei,” God’s crown jewel, before we pray for other aspects of our community. It represents the preciousness and intentionality of every human life. As a community, we must offer prayer and support to the most vulnerable among us while also defending them from the strategies of Satan himself, who seeks to kill, steal, and destroy.
After that, the believers gathered in the square and began a time of praise and worship with songs that glorified God as worthy and holy. They also pleaded for unity in their voices.
Finally, prayers were offered up for mercy and grace on those who have participated in abortion, for those at risk for abortion and seeking help, and for the Church to be ready and willing to step in with support and hope. The prayer group also prayed for protection and wisdom for the staff, volunteers, and supporters of the Hope House.
The 40-day prayer at the Hope House Women’s Clinic will continue every day until February 18th, 2024. Each day, a leader will guide a small group of prayer warriors to offer prayers and praises to God. They will pray for softened hearts and for Jesus Christ and His gospel to be celebrated and supported as they uphold the sanctity of human life. If you would like to participate in the 40 Days of Prayer, you can go to 40 Days of Prayer – Hope House Partners for Life (partnersforlives.org) and sign up!