Yes, a good man’s way is guided by the Lord.  But even then there may be things that grab his attention unexpectedly – seemingly at random.  I saw such a thing today.  It was a photo of a baby shoe that had been bronzed (to keep for “posterity,” a sort of retro way of preserving memories of our little children.  The shoe looked very pretty, and it was positioned on some type of base along with the ashtry. 

The ashtray!  The ashtray??!

Yes, an ashtray.  This baby memento was mounted on a base next to an ashtray.  Not that the maker of the piece should not sell such an item; that is their business.  But I could not help but be struck by the incongruous message seen by my glance there:  A memory of a new or young life; a picture of potential death through smoke.  It took me by surprise.

Yes, in our world, even when our steps are ordered by God, we run into rather odd combinations in life.  Of course, we just keep on walking when the odd combination is of little real importance, such as this ashtray thing.  But maybe we need to pray that these arrangements made by human beings are really the lesser things that they are, and also we could pray that babies being birthed soon will never pick up a cigarette or other form of tobacco.  We certainly don’t want a little one’s baby shoe mounted by their own smoking-gun killer.

Lord, this is a small instance of human indiosyncracy.  But there is no idiosyncracy in Your plans for every baby being carried in the womb today.  We just pray that you will help us humans limit our deadly dealings with illness and human-caused death so that every baby can live their potential life until the very end you have planned, without the attendant problems that can come from smoking and other habits. 
 
Topics:  Pray for healthy habits for all babies, throughout their lifetimes.
Our nation’s governors

When digging around in this scripture for meaning, there is a study in opposites.  It’s not the first one in this passage.  We know that God’s mighty arm brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt.  This is huge and great.  We also know that he took them to Himself, tenderly, to protect them.  This is smaller, more tender.  But now, look at another contrast.  He mentions to them that he has brought them to Himself, and in the same sentence, he says that He owns them as His special people, and then, “for all the earth is mine.”

They were His.  The world is His.  There is contrast.  He seems to go from close/personal on to the outreach of his arm over the entire Earth.  He speaks of drawing them close and that they are His above all others.  They can be His, in part, because the entire entity of the Planet Earth is His to own.  Personal, intimate God:  God who orchestrates the big picture.

It is the same for us.  He desires very greatly to draw us close.  When He is rescuing us from our trespasses, this drawing-close can mean something most special.  We as the failures that we often are in His sight, know how this feels on our end of things:  Most wonderful, to be taken back and held close.  And to be included in the same thought as the entire Earth being His – well, we just want to praise Him and say, “Thank You, Lord.”  We want this huge inclusion!

Lord, we can’t really understand all about this, and because that is a sign of your greatness, we really don’t ask to understand it here on this Earth.  Some day in Heaven, we’ll understand.  But for now, dear Lord, we just praise You that you think so much of us to claim us as Yours, as part of everything you own – which is everything.  We are so privileged, Lord, to know you in this way and to be thought of at all.  Please let women who are making choices about pregnancy know that you feel this way about us and want to include them in Your plans for Planet Earth and Your ownership of it.

Topics:  Pray for God to reveal through pro-life efforts how much He loves this world and wants to pull all of us into His endless love.
Community leaders

Perhaps we should take a closer look at the last sentence in this scripture, this word from God from Mt. Sinai.  God has already told Moses to tell the Israelites camped up close to the mountain that he has brought them out of Egypt and to Himself.  In this last sentence of scripture, he tells them they must hear his voice and keep His covenant, and they will be his “peculiar” possession above all people.  This might be thought of as special or distinctive. 

But first they have to listen.  “Oh.”  “Ok.”  Now that’s not such a demanding activity to meet.  All we have to do is listen to the voice of God.  Not so difficult.

But there’s more.  They are also, in God’s words, to “keep My covenant.” Now that is a bit more demanding.  Oh, yes, the keeping of covenants is entirely more demanding.  But here it is commanded that this one must be kept.

Why do we sometimes rail against being told to keep faithful to something, to a covenant?  What is it about us that doesn’t want to be tied down to something, to have something required of us?  We all know that it is our stubborn self-will.  Not that our wills are of no value – it is our wills that allow us to do the “things we will,” to accomplish things, to choose a pathway and walk it.  But when we get stubborn, especially against God, our wills can definitely get in the way.  In a big way.

God knows this.  He knew it about the Israelites before they ever set out on their journey to the Promised Land.  He knew they would run hot and cold toward Him, repenting and then sliding away from Him over and over.  And here, when He first speaks to them from Sinai, this subject is brought up, right in front.

What He says is great, though.  He is just telling his children (and Christians are His children also) that they will be His in a wonderfully unique and special way.  But they must listen and follow His ways. 

We, too, although not under the law of Moses, must do the same.  There is no greater happiness than when Christians are following their Lord’s directives and walking through life as cherished special persons.  It is a thing of joy.

And so, Lord, we ask you to help us keep your covenant with us, your law of love.  Help us to play it out as we serve those in pro-life work and in the lives of those who need help with LIFE issues.  Although we know that You forgive us when we stray, help us to be faithful children who enjoy Your presence in special ways because we have been willing to keep Your law and will.

Topics:  Pray for wisdom to keep God’s covenants and to thus remain very close to Him because we are keeping our lives in line with His will.
Community Impact teams in churches

In this Douay-Rheims older translation of the Bible, I like the wording about where the Children of Israel camped when they came to Mt. Sinai.  Other versions say they camped before, or in front of, the mountain.  But this translation words it, “over against the mountain.”

Why do I like this particular wording?  Here’s what it might be:  Israel “snuggled up” to God.

Oh, I know this seems a bit poeticized, but in a real sense, it may also be at least a bit accurate.  Why?  Mount Sinai was used by God greatly to speak to the Israelites, through Moses and in a show of fiery smoke, thunder and lightning, along with a trumpet blast, to the people watching the mountain when God spoke to Moses.  Of course, when the people were pitching their tents for camping, they didn’t know all of what would go on from this mountain.  But still, perhaps the mountain in some way afforded protection in the way they were over against it.  Picture it as up against it. 

God made mountains; he used this particular mountain to further His plans for Planet Earth; he allows us to have a mountain of protection in our lives:  Him.  Try to envision it:  God, our Mountain of strength, waiting for us to come and come up against it (Him) for all types of interactions and protections.  Envision us as camping close, over against Him, close-up.  We can feel the solidity of the mountain’s foundation.  We can look up to the towering thing that is the mountain.  We can know that in our lives, God’s mountain of love transcends all earthly means of protection or stability. 

Lord, we so often do not want to nestle up to you, our Strength.  We want to camp a bit farther out, in the far-out foothills or on the plains.  But the Israelites found themselves camped right on your doorstep, so to speak; and then they received messages from You, close-up.  Help us to camp close to you and so be effective in sending out your messages to all who seek to know your will, especially in pro-life issues.

Topics:  Pray for the willingness to camp up close and personal to God, so that He can protect and bless greatly.
Our nation’s churches – God knows their existence and will bless.

A larger meaning of this scripture, other than concerning God’s divine transportation of us as on eagles’ wings, has to do with His dealings with the Egyptians prior to the release of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage.  When they approach Mount Sinai, that mountain so prominent in God’s plans, God calls to Moses and speaks to him about the exodus: and the words of this scripture are what He tells Moses –  they have to do with his care of the Israelites and their being drawn to God by Him, Himself. 

Would these words have been predicted by anyone?  If someone had predicted, would they have perhaps said that God would have presented Himself as “larger,” to have brought attention to all of His plagues used against the Egyptians, perhaps presenting the litany of them one by one?

But no.  He likens Himself to an eagle, carrying the Israelites safely; and He presents Himself as loving, them, drawing them near.

“In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.”  (KJV)

Our God is a God of many dimensions (All dimensions!).  Here his power and his loving care are presented together, from the words of His mouth.  We can’t comprehend it, but it certainly is wonderful.  We are taken care of, loved; we are protected by a Mighty Hand.

Lord, help us to live our lives beautifully before You, knowing that you actually describe Yourself with power and with tenderness.  We ask that you show these characteristics of Yourself to families in the throes of LIFE situations, those old or young, continually and with Your graciousness.

Topics:  Pray for all struggling with LIFE decisions to know God’s power and love.
The United States army, for leadership to believe in created LIFE. 

Sometimes words just seem to fly off of your Bible page and into your consciousness.  The metaphor of God bearing us on the wings of eagles, as these noble birds do when teaching their young to fly, is powerful.  We can just feel God’s strong wings carrying us in the heights, up and down.  We have never a fear.  (I see, amusedly, that the use of the word “fly” when speaking of the words in our Bibles, fits quite well with the words about eagles!)

But there is more here, something close and personal.  We are told that God not only carries us, He brings us in unto Himself.  He takes our weight onto His holy wings.  And He also brings us to Himself.  He carries us; He holds us close.  He’s mighty; he’s tender. 

In carrying us, we see his majesty and power, his strength.  In bringing us in close, we see his nurture and care.  Those wings of strength surely must fold around us, holding us secure in the warmth of God’s arms.  The really astounding thing about this scripture is that God himself says he brings us to “Myself.”  What other relationship could ever offer as great a protection and love as this?  None.  Ever.  We are brought in close; we are important in this way, to our God.

Lord, help us to know that you want to bring us in to Yourself, and help us to realize that you want to do the same with every individual on Earth, even those who are preborn.  Help us to picture ourselves, as well as them, safe in your arms, those arms like wings that hold us up as we fly, and then bring us in for fellowship with and protection from, You.

Topics:  Pray to understand how much God loves us and wants to carry us and to protect us, just as He does unwed mothers and babies that are a surprise to their families.
The United States Air Force and the attitudes toward LIFE that the members carry with them

Pray as you are led directly from God or from postings on prolifeunity.com and the Prayer Pivot for Life.  Choose as led, any or all topics, events, groups, organizations, states, Pro-Life Action Calls, Prayer Action Calls, Peter and Patrizia Shinn and more.  With information about what is going on “out there,” we can pray more knowledgeably and with focus.  God hears from Heaven.  He moves valiantly in Heaven and on Earth.

2 Chronicles 7:14
“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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  RSV
[Scripture quotations are from] Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.  (Read this scripture and more at http://prayerpivot.com).

She was a small woman, grey-haired, and very concerned about the music her husband was getting out for a little program at a nursing home.  She told him again and again that the music was hers, not his.  He tried to tell her that he would use it for the program.  She just fussed around over it, agitated.

So a staff member sat down with her, got her some decaf, took her for a little walk down the hall to see something, kept her occupied during the performance.  It was a good plan, keeping her busy and distracted from the issue of the music. 

After the end of this short program, here she came.  She placed her small hands on the upper notes of the piano keys and started playing.  She played an old fun song about dancing, quite well.  I complimented her.  I said she could sit by me on the piano bench.  She was demure about it, but she did sit down and play some more; then I gave her the whole bench.

She played several songs totally without music.  And as pretty as the songs were, it was her face that was the true song.  In smiles, it seemed to shine.  It was transformed. 

Gone was the fretting frown.  Gone were the anxious glances and hovering around; gone was the effect of Alzheimer’s.  She was in an element of joy, and it showed.  It showed that she was still “in there.”  The essence of the person she is (and I say is, not was), became her true melody, rising up out of the music.  The disease had not erased all of her that was herself!  It was miraculous; yes, a transformation.   

I will not forget the program and this little lady.  It was such a beautiful event for me.  And it shows that God has planned into our selves, the selves of the entire human race, certain elements that are universal and timeless.  Music is one of these.  Everyone everywhere has potential to relate to a lovely tune.  Here it was a connector from her to those who were listening to the piano. 

This woman certainly connected with herself and others, and it was the highlight of the program for me – and many others probably if they realized what was going on.  She was truly green in her older age, but not to be seen from the outside.  It was her inner green that claimed the day for her and beautified it for others.

I don’t know anything about her relationship or righteousness with God, but I did see her displaying this inner green-ness.  Each child born has potential for inner green.  To develop the effects of this to be enjoyed, the child must be birthed.  Lord, we pray for an end to abortion so that all preborn children now and in the future will have a chance to show their green from You, clearly, until their last days. 
 
Topics:  Pray for those with Alzheimer’s, that they will be able to show their true selves, at least on occasion, for the joy of themselves, for the joy of others.
All abortionists’ employees around the globe.

Do you ever wake up in the morning with many great spiritual intentions?  You are going to go get your Bible, perhaps perk a little coffee, and you are going to read that Bible and pray and get the day off to the best start possible.

Halt.

This didn’t happen.

First mistake – turning on the computer and reading e-mail.  Seems to take a while, especially when you feel compelled to answer several items in the Inbox; and then reading one e-mail gets you on track to Google something on the ‘Net, and then you remember something else you wanted to check on while at the computer.  And then maybe you‘ve been up an hour or more, and the Bible still lies on the end table or sits on the shelf, unread. 

Second mistake – not calling yourself to attention and dressing yourself down real good for your failure.  In the military, this could happen, possibly with the result that the needed action took place.  Maybe dressing yourself down would bring yourself up short to realize where your priorities have been the first two hours you were up.

This surely must happen to all of us; or maybe there are some believers so dedicated to our Lord that they always are able to choose the best for themselves at the beginning of each day.  But for those of us who fail miserably at this doable goal, what can help us?  We’re instructed to be earnest in all seasons.  How do we get our earnestness to work when there are so many distractions to hinder our best intentions?

Well, we must admit that this is a problem; don’t ignore it.  If we are truly meaningful in the desire to start our days in this great manner, then we must admit that we don’t do this.  And, in asking God to help us, we must also be honest.  He knows every weakness; he can strengthen us in every weakness.

Perhaps a plan will help.  I believe I’ll try placing my Bible in a very visible spot in the house, a spot not off of the beaten pathways in the rooms.  Maybe if my eyes are reminded of how easy it is to pick up the Bible and open it—I will.  Also, either go to a place in the house where it seems conducive to reading the Bible.  Or go to a new place for fresh outlook.

Lord, help us to be earnest and faithful.  Help us in our weaknesses.  Help us to grow in You because we are faithful to Your Word.  We ask this of you, Lord, especially when we think of pro-life issues that need to be just and true.  We ask this of You.

Topics:  Pray for willingness to begin any day in the Bible and in prayer.
Pray for all abortionists around the globe.

There are more and more young people, teenagers, who are going pro-LIFE.  There are pro-life groups on college campuses, and elsewhere, and many make the trip to Washington, DC, for the annual January March on Washington for LIFE causes.  We must support them.  We need to pray for them and all of their friends and contacts with whom they Tweet, text, and more. 

In I Timothy we are told of the value of youthfulness.  We can see it through those who March on Washington among their many stands for LIFE.  When we see a newspaper article on the March, often there are smiling teens looking at us from the paper.  Maybe we can say a prayer just for those – God knows who they are!  He invented newspapers, and He “invented” those excited kids! 
Perhaps we should be praying for those grade-school kids down the block, too – Those Girl Scouts or Cub Scouts who come to our door selling cookies or popcorn may just be the youthful ones peering out of a newspaper a decade from now!

Lord, help us to remember youth and not to look down upon it because of these kids’ lack of experience.  Help us to remember, Lord, that sometimes lack of experience brings enthusiasm for a cause – because of freshness of attitude.  Help us to treat children and youth with respect because you said so!

Topics:  Pray by name (of those you know) for teenagers and youth you know, that they will love God always and perhaps be strong for LIFE as they grow up.
Youth pastors

God, of course, is the One who judged the success of any human endeavor.  He inspires us to go and to do, and it is His hand in it all that brings about the completion of His intended purposes.  But how do we humans estimate our effectiveness in huge endeavors such as this?

For those of us who never go to Washington, DC, to march, we must make our assessments from afar.  Just one of those might be that we see the effectiveness of the march in our own hearts because of the magnitude of it and because of the dedication we see in those marching (making plans, getting there, paying for everything while there, etc.)  Those who travel from afar to participate in this demonstration of intent are admired.  It has cost them something.

It surely must also bring them a lot of joy.

A way we might, not assess - but appreciate - the effectiveness of large pro-life events is in the comments about them.  Videos sometimes portray the events with commentary by video-tape personnel or those interviewed on tape.  We see smiles and hear about how great it is to be a part of such a focused large rally.  And, we also see tapings of prayer warriors on their knees or telling rosary beads.  We witness speakers, some national leaders who have been standing for LIFE for decades.  We see children with parents, beginning their witness for LIFE by just being in the world.

All in all, the national events for LIFE have their effects and bring our appreciation.  Lord help us to be faithful to pray for the organizers, the organizations participating, and the witness to those who still believe that the way to take care of an overwhelming situation (unplanned pregnancy) is to destroy the baby’s life. 

Topics:  Pray for all who organize and participate in the March on Washington in January every year.
Again, unity of purpose among pro-life groups

The book of Acts in the Bible is full of examples of Christians standing up for various causes.  The apostles Peter and John got in trouble for talking about Christ with others.  Paul suffered many injuries and life-threatening circumstances over and over.  Jesus’ follower Stephen was stoned to death for taking his stand for his Lord.

We can only imagine what the number of instances would be, in the New Testament, of individual believers standing for Christ, one-on-one with others.  This had to be a major way in which the church grew after its beginnings.  There were times when many came to the Lord at the same time, such as at Pentecost, (Acts 2:41) when 3,000 responded to the disciples’ preaching.  Should all of those turned and “marched,” lock-step, it would have been quite an army. 

When the people of God stand up for the righteous playing-out of God’s purposes, we become an army, so to speak.  Those going to our nation’s capital city to march for LIFE are a band of believers, and those of other faiths joining them are to be credited with right thinking and public action. 

Whether one-on-one as part of a more unseen army, or marching personally to make one’s point, those who stand for LIFE do make a difference.  Whether the liberal media report the numbers correctly or not, the numbers are what they are, and God knows, and eventually there will be adults in our society who were saved by these acts of belief and will acknowledge the power of marching together, seen or unseen.

Lord, help us to hold in prayer all those involved with witness to LIFE during any time of the year, and especially during the LIFE march on Washington.

Topics:  Pray for all remembrances of Roe v. Wade and those involved.
Unity of purpose and support among pro-life groups

Pray as you are led directly from God or from postings on prolifeunity.com and the Prayer Pivot for Life.  Choose as led, any or all topics, events, groups, organizations, states, Pro-Life Action Calls, Prayer Action Calls, Peter and Patrizia Shinn and more.  With information about what is going on “out there,” we can pray more knowledgeably and with focus.  God hears from Heaven.  He moves valiantly in Heaven and on Earth.

2 Chronicles 7:14
“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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  RSV
[Scripture quotations are from] Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.  (Read this scripture and more at http://prayerpivot.com).