John,

Saturday is the busiest abortion day in America...

...and abortion survives on pain.

You will see that pain played out as women enter and exit abortion facilities, and relief is nowhere to be found on their faces.

Prayer warriors in Hollywood, Florida, recently watched a woman emerge from the abortion center physically and emotionally broken.

"She leaned against the building trying to steady herself but couldn't," said Nancy, the local leader. "So she sat on the concrete walkway."

The abortionist had already gone home, but vigil participants stuck around to minister to the woman, offering prayers, a chair, and a bottle of water. "Her lips were dry and chapped, and she dribbled water out of her mouth as she thanked us," Nancy continued.

The post-abortive mother didn't want to end her pregnancy, but when she told her husband she didn't want the abortion, he hit her.

"That's when the 'Father of the Year' showed up and told her to get in the car," Nancy remembered. "He offered her no assistance."

Vigil participants witnessed a similar scene a week later when another weeping woman accepted help from the vigil participants after her abortion. The woman's sister arrived to drive her home and angrily accused prayer warriors of making her "feel more guilty."

When Nancy explained that her team wasn't judging, simply offering the help the abortion workers didn't provide, the sister calmed down and thanked the vigil participants.

Serving as the first sign of God's mercy after a woman has an abortion isn't as joyful or exciting as saving a baby...but it's no less important.

Sevilla, Spain

The 40 Days for Life team in Sevilla encountered a woman who had an abortion late in the second trimester because her baby had an abnormality.

"After many hours, she came out, walking with difficulty," noted Nayeli, who organizes the Sevilla campaign.

Later that day, a van from the mortuary arrived. "Don't worry, we are only here to pick up the body of a little boy," the driver said to Nayeli as he held out his hand to indicate the child's size.

"How blind and lost people are," Nayeli commented.

Watertown, New York

"My heart is heavy...I'm so saddened," said Flora, the campaign leader in Watertown. "I couldn't convince a young couple today. Knowing they went through with it is devastating."

Flora said she thinks the expectant mother was interested in having a conversation with vigil participants--but her boyfriend rushed her into the facility.

"We prayed and prayed for her to come back out, but she didn't until much later," Flora recalled.

The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne.

--Revelation 12:4-5 3

O God, from generation to generation, you have called your people to be the very aroma of life amidst a culture of death. Now it is our turn. Prepare me. Send me. Use me. I am eager to do my part. Stir your people everywhere to take up this great work.

See today's full devotional

For life,

Shawn Carney
President/CEO, 40 Days for Life