Prayer saves a life in L.A. yesterday
Abortion as a national discussion is too often abstract and polemical. Yesterday a life was saved in Los Angeles – that is real. When my coworker Mark heard that a relative was going through with an abortion tomorrow, he prayed about it. Something inside him said, “NO! Go to Los Angeles!” So Mark dropped everything and went to the Dallas airport and got on a plane. It seemed crazy. He had no way of knowing if his relative would even meet him.
But he did. In Los Angeles, they talked and prayed together. And then, a miracle – the abortion was cancelled! Later Mark reported: “they had definitely been in a fog and never even considered any other options. Some of the lies they were told by the abortion clinic were ‘abortion is self-defense,’ and ‘it is a necessary evil.’”
Which brings me to a larger point. Why do I emphasize listening prayer? It’s because often, Jesus has very important things to say to us. He spoke to me today and said,
“I take no pleasure in the death of anyone declares the Lord. Repent and live!” Ezekiel 18:1. But Mark needed more than a Bible verse, he needed to hear, “Go to Los Angeles!” It was the difference between life and death.
What we at AIM teach on our projects is not just a key for abundant living; in some cases, it may be critical for life itself. Mark’s example of listening and obedience is an inspiration to us all. Some of you may be going through life having never heard the voice of God. Relax – you don’t have to be super-spiritual, he’s eager to have more than the usual prayer-monologue with you. He’s a personal God.
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Seth,
I applaud Mark for his laudable actions but pray that he fulfills his commitment to “save” the innocent life by making the necessary (and long-term) sacrifices needed in order to ensure that the physical, emotion and spiritual needs of the child will be met. Though I believe abortion is wrong, I also believe that a half-hearted response without necessary follow-up is even more offensive. As Christians, we cannot only advocate the saving of innocent lives, more importantly we must equally voice the need to provide for life created. Lastly, this dialogue must be complemented with a full understanding of the socio-economic correlations that define abortion in America. This understanding will force us to ask the question, “Why are low-income urban minorities more likely to have an abortion then their affluent Caucasian counterparts?” And more importantly, “What can we do, as the Body of Christ, to ameliorate this disproportionate reality?” Abortion is only a symptom of a greater economic/political/cultural problem that the church must address.
Seth,
When we hear the voice of God it is simply to strong to NOT respond. I know that many do. However, you have to ask yourself what was the level of relationship/intimacy at the time the LORD spoke.
Abortion above all is a spiritual crisis. The value of life is important to God that HE gave HIS Son. We (the Church) certainly need deeper commitment to serve and uplift the poor all over the world. But upliftment without the Gospel is “a noisy gong”.