Australia’s Largest Christian News Site

Intention

To win pro-abortionists by God’s love.

Scripture

“The Lord of Armies says this: ‘I am extremely jealous for Zion; I am jealous for her with great wrath.’ The Lord says this: ‘I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem… Old men and women will again sit along the streets of Jerusalem, each with a staff in hand because of their advanced age. The streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in them.’”

– Zechariah 8:2–5

“We love because he first loved us.”

– 1 John 4:19

Reflection

The year was 1969, and 22-year-old Norma McCorvey was divorced, unmarried and pregnant for the third time through what she “thought was love”. After Norma’s doctor confirmed she was pregnant, she told him she “wanted an abortion” and “did not want to carry the child for economic reasons.”

But Texas state law forbid abortion. She later delivered a baby girl, and placed her up for adoption.

During her pregnancy, Norma caught the attention of two young lawyers, Sarah Weddington and Linda Coffee (pictured in black and white above), who wanted to overturn the Texas statue that outlawed abortion. They needed a young, desperate and believable pregnant woman to front their case. They found what they were looking for in McCorvey. Norma was given the pseudonym Jane Roe, whose name features in the famous Roe v Wade case.

To ramp up the appeal of Norma’s situation, the attorneys told the court that her pregnancy was the result of a gang rape — a lie that McCorvey would publicly admit some years later.

In 1973, the US Supreme Court sided with ‘Roe’ and her attorneys, and state bans on abortion were ruled unconstitutional.

Norma later worked in a Dallas abortion clinic, booking appointments and comforting the mothers during the abortions. Recalling her experiences there, she reflected, “I would go in the room and hold the woman’s hand, and a lot of times they would just draw blood because they were holding on [so tightly].”

Having developed an addiction to alcohol from an early age, Norma revealed to a Texas radio station that after a day at the abortion clinic, she had to “drink (herself) to sleep at night” in order to forget what she saw.

Photo: Flip baptises Norma in 1995. Image source.

During this time, a pro-life group, Operation Rescue, opened an office right next door to the Dallas abortion clinic. Norma preferred to call the director, whose real name was Flip Benham, ‘Flip Venom’. Norma told a local news outlet, “If it comes to a standoff, we’ll do a standoff. We’ll do abortions as long as women want them.” A Time magazine writer called the situation ‘Roe v Rescue’.

Yet, the Operation Rescue team looked for every opportunity to befriend Norma. Norma had often complained that she was “used” by pro-abortionists to further their cause. But Flip treated Norma as a valuable person. Sinful, yes — but loved by God with inherent dignity and worth.

Ronda Mackey, a mother of two young girls, was an assistant to Flip. One of her daughters, Emily, “would walk up to women going into the abortion mill and hand out literature and ask them not to go in and hurt their babies.” Emily affectionately called McCorvey “Miss Norma” and would shower her with love, hugs, smiles and multiple invitations to church. Emily was just eight years old.

Norma finally accepted an invitation to church in July 1995. She accepted Jesus Christ that day. Flip baptised her that year, and the former ‘Jane Roe’ went on to work for Operation Rescue.

In McCorvey’s own words, she had been “won by love” — words which would form the title of her new autobiography — by an eight-year-old girl and a team of dedicated God-loving pro-lifers.

When we consider our own journeys with the Lord, the same is true of us. “We love”, John wrote, only “because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

In Won by Love, Norma recounts how she was haunted by the sight of empty playgrounds that should have had children playing in them. “It’s all your fault, Norma”, she wrote in her autobiography. “You’re the reason this playground — and playgrounds all across this country — are empty.”

In today’s scripture reading, the prophet Zechariah records God’s promises for the future, where the noise of joyful playing girls and boys will fill Jerusalem’s streets. While this is a prediction of Jesus’ coming kingdom (I believe), we are to pray and work towards such a goal now. (Just as we pray and work to alleviate poverty, even though we will “always have the poor” with us (Matthew 26:11)).

Love is God’s greatest and most potent weapon in this spiritual war. Let us win others through that love, because even the Jane Roe of Roe v Wade was never too unredeemable to become a glorious new creation in Christ.

Video

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

As we pray for mercy and redemption for all during these 21 days of prayer and fasting for the unborn, we ask for a renewed appreciation of your mercy and redemption of ourselves. Enable me to feel afresh your love and affection this day.

Direct me to the person you wish me connect with today to demonstrate your love to.

We ask that many mothers who have had an abortion, and those who have been involved in these decisions, would discover your mercy and redemption in Jesus Christ.

In his name we pray, amen.

Author Bio

Samuel lives with his wife and three young children in South Australia. He is fascinated by the impact of worldview and enjoys exploring how Christian faith relates to every area of life. An emerging writer and journalist, he has a background in the biological and geological sciences, ministry, and theology.

Prayer Points for 21 Days for Life 2026

1. The Holy Spirit to transform our culture so that the shedding of this innocent blood becomes unthinkable in Australia. (Micah 6:7–8)
2. The Church be one, praying and advocating for the unborn. (John 17:21)
3. Each church across Australia to become a trusted place of mercy and redemption, so that anyone experiencing an unexpected pregnancy or who has been wounded by abortion will find help, hope and healing. For every church to be an effective House of Refuge for the unborn and their families, and Hubs of Love to be established in every city and town in the nation. (Hebrews 4:16)
4. Those considering or wounded by abortion to receive compassionate and confidential care by contacting Pregnancy Help Australia or visiting a life-affirming pregnancy centre. (Exodus 15:26)
5. Walks for life to flourish in every state and territory as a public witness. (Matthew 5:14–16)
6. Australians to vote for and elect bold MPs who’ll stand for and champion the sanctity of life. (Psalm 139:13–16)

Sign up to receive daily devotions during these 21 days of prayer and fasting in your inbox and find extra info, including promotional resources, here.

Pray With Us On Zoom During These 21 Days

DAYS: Every Sunday, Monday and Wednesday night from 18 January – 7 February 2026

TIME: 8 pm AEDT; 7:30 pm SA; 7 pm QLD; 6:30 pm NT; 5 pm WA

ZOOM LINK: https://zoom.us/j/776881184

View all Prayer for Life 2026 Devotionals

Daily devotions are brought to you by Love Australia in conjunction with the Canberra Declaration.

Image via Adobe.