Every single person has a story that has brought them here and to this place. Many of us, our families, and our friends have been touched by abortion in some way. Some of us may have had abortions ourselves. Some of us may have family members or close friends who have had abortions. Some of us may side with abortion rights, and some of us may rally against abortion.
My husband and I were speaking last night about the idea that every single person has a story. It's personal. It changes how we process and think about life. As a child who was brought into this world be very young parents who were counseled by some in their lives to have an abortion, I can tell you that I have a lens that I view abortion through. It affects how I think about it and how I contemplate the hardships and sacrifice that children present. But I also know the incredible blessing of parents who were willing to make difficult decisions- who welcomed me into this world despite the very real struggles they faced. I can't forget that. I can't take my personal story out when I reflect. I don't know your story or the lens you are viewing through. But I think we can all understand one another a little more if we were willing to have eyes that see and ears that hear each other. The pain. The sacrifice. The guilt. The joy. The hard times. The good times. We need to share these stories with one another if we are ever going to understand. It softens our heart for the other person.
Our prayer today is two fold- pray for eyes that see and ears that hear the stories of those around you. Show compassion. Shower grace upon grace upon those in our lives.
But we also pray for eyes that see and ears that hear truth. No matter what our story is, there is an absolute Truth present and waiting for us to draw near to him. Pray that those who share their stories with us, and those willing to hear ours, would walk towards Christ.
Lord,
Give us eyes to see and ears to hear the stories around us. Give us words of life to speak into their lives. Give us humble hearts that would hear their stories with grace. Give us a spirit of compassion as we listen to the men and women in our lives who have had abortions and let them be open to the forgiveness that you are lavishing upon them. Pray for the families that have stories of heart ache and stories of sacrifice. Embolden families who chose life when it was a huge sacrifice to speak to those around them, to encourage others, and to support families and women who are facing difficult decisions.
Jesus, we pray for the culture around us to have eyes to see and ears to hear truth. We pray for our own eyes and ears to be open to you. We pray that your Holy Spirit would draw us closer to you and would draw those around us closer to you. We ask that you would make us and mold us for your kingdom. Lord, speak truth into our lives even when it hurts. Then, let us speak life into others.
Amen
My husband and I were speaking last night about the idea that every single person has a story. It's personal. It changes how we process and think about life. As a child who was brought into this world be very young parents who were counseled by some in their lives to have an abortion, I can tell you that I have a lens that I view abortion through. It affects how I think about it and how I contemplate the hardships and sacrifice that children present. But I also know the incredible blessing of parents who were willing to make difficult decisions- who welcomed me into this world despite the very real struggles they faced. I can't forget that. I can't take my personal story out when I reflect. I don't know your story or the lens you are viewing through. But I think we can all understand one another a little more if we were willing to have eyes that see and ears that hear each other. The pain. The sacrifice. The guilt. The joy. The hard times. The good times. We need to share these stories with one another if we are ever going to understand. It softens our heart for the other person.
Our prayer today is two fold- pray for eyes that see and ears that hear the stories of those around you. Show compassion. Shower grace upon grace upon those in our lives.
But we also pray for eyes that see and ears that hear truth. No matter what our story is, there is an absolute Truth present and waiting for us to draw near to him. Pray that those who share their stories with us, and those willing to hear ours, would walk towards Christ.
Lord,
Give us eyes to see and ears to hear the stories around us. Give us words of life to speak into their lives. Give us humble hearts that would hear their stories with grace. Give us a spirit of compassion as we listen to the men and women in our lives who have had abortions and let them be open to the forgiveness that you are lavishing upon them. Pray for the families that have stories of heart ache and stories of sacrifice. Embolden families who chose life when it was a huge sacrifice to speak to those around them, to encourage others, and to support families and women who are facing difficult decisions.
Jesus, we pray for the culture around us to have eyes to see and ears to hear truth. We pray for our own eyes and ears to be open to you. We pray that your Holy Spirit would draw us closer to you and would draw those around us closer to you. We ask that you would make us and mold us for your kingdom. Lord, speak truth into our lives even when it hurts. Then, let us speak life into others.
Amen