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Intention
Prayer is essential, but we cannot stop at prayer — we must act, and be willing to be used by God as an answer to our prayers.

Scripture

“The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’”—Jeremiah 1:4-5

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”—James 1:22

“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”—James 2:26

Reflection
It is important that we pray to God about the issue of life — but it is also essential that we do what we can to be pro-life in our actions.

In 1987, I felt I should stand as a candidate for the Orange City Council as an Independent. So did another woman from our church, Nancy Weathersten. A ticket always increased one’s vote, so we decided to stand together as there were many candidates.

We couldn’t decide who should be number one on the ticket. I suggested we toss a coin. Nancy won and got elected, and she was very helpful with council negotiations in commencing the Orange Christian School in 1981. We also proclaimed Orange as a “pro-life city” in 1987 with Nancy’s help. We asked the council to keep abortion in the criminal code, and this sent a message to the NSW government.

It is an interesting story, as we didn’t have the numbers until the vote was commenced. Right at that moment, an obviously pregnant woman entered the council chambers. This had a powerful effect on those present, and at that very moment the motion was carried, and Orange was voted to be a pro-life city. It was breathtaking to see God act so sovereignly in answer to our prayers and petitions.

There were other miracle stories at this time — and one of them was a young girl called Kate.

Kate’s mother was in an abusive marriage. They already had two young children but could hardly cope because her husband was an alcoholic. He even threatened to leave the marriage if she became pregnant again.

Fearing she had indeed fallen pregnant again, Kate’s mother drove into town and met with a doctor who happened to be a Christian. With compassion, the doctor explained to Kate’s mother the miraculous developments already taking place in Kate’s body, even at that early stage of the pregnancy.

Kate’s mother decided to keep her, even at the cost of her husband leaving. Today, Kate is in her 40s. This is how her mother described the change of heart that took place for her when she decided to keep Kate:

“I know now beyond any doubt that Kate’s life was God’s idea. He has a wonderful plan for her as He has for each one of us. Everything God has planned has been there from the obscure moment when conception occurred — it only needs time. I am watching the wonderful unfolding of a beautiful young girl’s life because of the grace of God in sending me to a Christian doctor.”

Prayer
Dear Lord, we pray for life in Australia. We ask for many more pregnancies to be saved and many more beautiful girls like Kate to be born. In prayer, we stand against the forces of darkness that wish for the death of the unborn in our nation. We also commit ourselves to becoming feet to our own prayers. Show us how to act once we have prayed. Lead us into situations where we can be practically pro-life — to be a change in our world and a blessing to others so that the precious unborn can live.
We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer Points for October 2020
1. Pray for a Breakthrough for LIFE, specifically an end to abortion and euthanasia in our nation. Exodus 20:13
2. Pray for a Breakthrough for INDIGENOUS LIFE, specifically an end to high youth suicide and premature death due to ill health. 3 John 1:2
3. Pray for new POLITICIANS for LIFE, especially pray for the upcoming elections in Queensland (31st October), ACT (17th October) + USA (3 November) & New Zealand (17 October). Proverbs 29:2
4. Pray for the Revitalisation of SPIRITUAL LIFE, namely repentance, renewal & transformation, that our nation might return to God. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Dr Graham McLennan is a tutor at the University Dental School, Charles Sturt University and supervises dental student teams to Cambodia. In 1973 Graham studied with Francis Schaeffer in L’Abri, Switzerland. He was on the executive of the National Gathering of 1988 and the Bicentennial of Christian Education in Australia in 1993 and helped initiate the National Christian Heritage Sunday celebrations in 2012.

Among Graham’s many great initiatives is the National Alliance of Christian Leaders (NACL), formed in 1985. He also started the Christian History Research website which examines the history of our Christian forefathers and their faith and contribution to the kingdom of God.

We invite you to join the daily 1-hour Zoom video National Prayer Call every night:
DATES: 1st– 31st October 2020
TIME: 8pm-9pm AEST
ZOOM URL LINK: https://zoom.us/j/776881184
ZOOM MEETING ID: 776881184
See Zoom tutorial here.

Daily devotions brought to you by the Canberra Declaration.