8th Sept 2023 - Prayer and Fasting for the Unborn: Day Six - Is an Embryo a Person?

Love Australia
Aug 28, 2023
4 min read

Updated: Sep 8, 2023

"As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears,

the baby in my womb leaped for joy." Luke 1:44

Worship

Devotion

Bible Reading: Luke 1:39-45; John 3:27-30.

The Bible clearly teaches the personhood of those in the womb through its description of John the Baptist.

When Mary the mother of Jesus became pregnant, she went and visited Elizabeth, her relative: ‘At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"’ (Luke 1:39-45).

John the Baptist’s ministry had already begun – in the womb! John’s job was to point people to Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He said later: ‘You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less’ (John 3:27-30).

John was appointed by God as the friend to the bridegroom, Jesus, and as his friend delighted in his presence. And we see this happen even as a baby in the womb. John leaps in the womb thereby telling Elizabeth that someone very special has just entered the house – albeit inside Mary.

God clearly teaches us that those in the womb are people too.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we praise you as the God who has all knowledge and wisdom. We thank you for speaking to us about yourself and about ourselves. Forgive us for the times we fail to understand what it means that every human being has personhood from yourself and is worthy of respect and love. Help us by your Spirit to love everyone, including those in the womb, and love them as we would love ourselves. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Prayer Points:

Those in the womb to be highly valued as precious human beings made in God's image to be protected, provided for and loved. A rescue to those who may be in danger of being aborted - help those who are responsible for them find help and wisdom to keep their children.
The churches and believers in Sydney to have their hearts listening to Gods heart for September 23rd Love Sydney – Walk for Life 2023. That as we stand for life as one we are of one accord and reveal Jesus to the powers of darkness.
Those on the frontline preparing for the Love Sydney Walk for Life 2023 2pm in Hyde Park near the Archibald Fountain, the leaders, volunteers, and guest speakers. For good working sound systems, technicians, security, parking, great weather and more people have all obstacles removed to be able to awaken and come out to stand for life.
Success for media coverage, for the word to spread to all the righteous.
Protection for everyone in the pro-life movement – all to be hidden and effective! Psalm 91
We pray for every state and territory of Australia to come together to stand for life! For hearts to be awakened and every Christian to rally to rescue the unborn as the church rises up to Walk for Life Sydney 23rd Sept 2023 “Walk for Life Adelaide” 10th Feb 2024 and “March for Life” Brisbane - date TBA, Mackay “March for the Babies” October, “March for the Babies” Saturday 7th Oct 2023 Treasury Gardens to the Melbourne Parliament, Melbourne. Pray for every Territory and State in our Nation to join in and hold rallies and walks for life in their cities.

These current Pro-Life Issues before Parliaments:

· Pray that abortion will not increase in Australia. The ACT Government has announced it will provide free abortions from mid 2023.

As Medicare sadly already cover the costs for all Australian women having abortions this is likely to be for overseas students, those on work visas and those here on holiday having abortions paid from Australian taxes.

This is currently being debated in the Upper House in Western Australia - their Abortion Legislation Reform Bill 2023 has been labelled by some as the most radical abortion law in the world. Pray they include the 4 clauses from the South Australian Termination of Pregnancy Act 2021.

· Pray that The Human Rights (Children Born Alive Protection) Bill 2022 be passed speedily in 2023. This Bill will protect babies who are currently, in most States of Australia, being left to die after a failed abortion. This protection for such babies is currently law in NSW (2019) and SA (2021) as amendments to the state Termination of Pregnancy Acts. This Federal Bill, if passed, will make this legislation National. Pray for protection for the three Federal Senators Alex Antic (Liberal Party) Matthew Canavan (National Party) and Ralph Babet (United Australia Party) who presented this Bill 30/11/2022.