John,

The spring 2021 40 Days for Life campaign is underway--and so is the holy season of Lent.

But what is Lent? And why do Christians across many denominations observe it?

On this week's episode of The 40 Days for Life Podcast, we discuss:

• The history and purpose of Lent
  
  
• How 40 days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving can draw you closer to God than ever before
  
  
• Why Lent and the spiritual battle to end abortion go hand-in-hand

Listen in by visiting:

40daysforlife.com/lent-101

And then sign up to pray at your local vigil: 40daysforlife.com/location

For more podcasts on how fasting can enhance your Lenten observances and your pro-life activism, check out these podcasts:

• Practical Tips for Fasting (episode 140)
  
  
• 5 tips for keeping your fast (even when it's really hard) (season 5, episode 7)
  
  
• I want to fast, but I really like food (episode 10)
  
  
• Fasting ... but constantly thinking about food? (episode 89)

40 Days for Life kickoff events continue all week in cities around the world.

El Cajon, California

The El Cajon campaign began with a candlelight vigil featuring Auxiliary Bishop Ramon Bejarano from the Diocese of San Diego.

Well over 100 attendees united in a prayer procession to Planned Parenthood while the Jubilate Deo choir sang.

"The sidewalk was filled with many young adults with angelic voices," reported Vicki, the longtime leader in El Cajon. "It was a great beginning to a surely successful 40 Days for Life vigil!"

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

The Stevens Point vigil opened with a temperature of six degrees below zero Fahrenheit. (That's 21 degrees below zero Celsius.)

But Gary, the local co-leader, said that eventually the sun came out and warmed things up...all the way to 10 degrees (-12 Celsius). That wasn't the only good news, weather-wise.

"The sidewalk is in good shape compared with other years and the huge snow piles," Gary said.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

—Matthew 6:25-26

Loving heavenly Father, help us to see the worth of all human beings by the way in which you provide for us. We would ask that you provide also the faith, grace and courage to enable us to protect that which is so precious to you.

See today's full devotional

For life,

Shawn Carney

President/CEO, 40 Days for Life