John,

It's no secret we live in a divided world.

Political division. Racial division. Social Division. Economic division. Everywhere you look, people are at each other's throats or told they should be.

But where fiery rhetoric and arguments fail to change hearts, peaceful prayer succeeds.

A woman bearing a pro-abortion sign began angrily shouting at an Austin, Texas 40 Days for Life participant named Ellen.

Ellen returned the anger with kindness.

"I'm so sorry for your pain," she responded.

The woman began crying and hugged Ellen, sharing the difficulties of her life--including the pain that followed her abortion.

Vigil participants shared post-abortion healing resources, and the woman thanked them for their presence and their concern.

"She said she wished the vigil participants would have been there for her with her two pregnancies," reported Heather, the Austin leader. "This woman intended to come protest our prayer vigil and ended up leaving with help, hope and gratitude!"

Multiple passersby have told Austin vigil participants that they've had changes of heart.

"I used to make fun of you guys," said one with a big smile on his face. "But that was back when I was a leftist communist. Now I respect you for being here and totally get what you're standing for."

As a token of his appreciation, the man gave prayer warriors a bag of bison jerky. "That's definitely a first," commented Heather.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Pittsburgh 40 Days for Life campaign publishes a daily blog.

One post-abortive mother in town visited the comment section to express her regret--and to thank vigil participants for their service.

"I know if a protester would've approached me I wouldn't have done what I did and I would have my baby right now," the heartbreaking post reads. "Thank you for doing this, you are saving lives."

Campaign leader Nikki said a protester came out to counter the vigil for National Women's Day...

...but the protester was stunned into silence when she saw the pro-lifers' fetal models.

"It seems she dropped her protest and left after viewing the fetal models," Nikki reported.

Memphis, Tennessee

A truck driver stopped in the middle of a busy four-lane road and got out of his truck to question vigil participants.

"What about rape?" the man asked.

"A baby is a baby is a baby," replied a vigil participant.

The man was convinced. "You know, I think you're right," he replied before leaving. Later in the day, he drove by the vigil again, smiling and waving at volunteers.

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth."

— Genesis 1:27-28

Father of mercy and grace, we thank you for the gift of our children. Grant that every fiber of our being may rejoice when a new baby, our own or anybody else’s, is born into the world. Help us to welcome them as we would welcome you, for whenever a new baby is conceived, another life to bear your image and another voice to praise and worship you, is beginning.

See today's full devotional

For life,

Shawn Carney
President/CEO, 40 Days for Life