A Prayer to Treasure the Sanctity of Life - Your Daily Prayer - January 19
A Prayer to Treasure the Sanctity of Life
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading: “Yet You, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand” - Isaiah 64:8
Read or Listen Below:
Each January, American Christians celebrate Sanctity of Life Day, set aside to commemorate God’s priceless gift of life.
The United States' 40th President, Ronald Reagan, first issued the national proclamation on January 22, 1984, setting aside a day to honor life and remember the millions of lives ended through abortion. It’s also a day to commit to praying for and protecting life at every age and stage.
As believers in Jesus Christ, we’re called to daily choose life over death, as Deuteronomy 30:19 urges, “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”
Our choosing begins through the words we communicate about life to ourselves, friends, family, community, and the world at large. Proverbs 31:8 urges us to “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”
We Are Called to Be Life Influencers
Whether we think so or not, what we speak and write about life influences those who hear and read our words. Because they do, it’s vital we support life in the ways we communicate. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Sadly, nowadays, some Christians believe they can support scientific theories over biblical truth, but in essence, they are rejecting their Creator, God, and where life truly began for humans.
Genesis 1:27 describes “So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.”
Rather than embracing and cherishing how our amazing Creator formed us in His image and breathed His breath of life into us, they instead replace Him in His position with random, creator-less options, where life is devalued, considered worthless, and easily disposable.
But as believers in Jesus Christ, we are called to believe what Genesis 2:7 records as taking place at the beginning of the world as we know it, by our very personal hands-on God.
“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
Sanctity of Life Remains
Today, high-profile voices in our present-day culture are unabashedly speaking out, even celebrating abortion. Praises for the benefits of killing unborn babies are boldly proclaimed, renamed, and disguised as women’s healthcare and reproduction rights.
Some individuals are giddy shouting the rewards of disposing of unwanted babies, pushing non-stop relentless efforts to influence and persuade society that it’s their human right, working to justify deathly choices and gain public approval and support.
But God had a life planned out for each and every baby murdered, as Psalms 139:16 describes, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be."
As well, societies today are promoting assisted suicide, along with euthanizing those who have physical and mental disabilities, various illnesses, and the elderly.
But Isaiah 46:4, lets us know that God doesn’t look at individuals in the way the world does, assuring us, “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
Remember We Are Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Although the world tries to devalue our worth and change the image of who we are, Psalm 139:14 reassures who God says we are: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
No matter what men, women, and governments may tell us, let there be no doubt in our hearts and minds who created us, the One who formed us with His own hand and has called us priceless in His sight. Psalm 8:4-6 describes our worth to God.
“What is mankind that You are mindful of them, human beings that You care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of Your hands; You put everything under their feet.” Psalm 8:4-6
Let’s Pray:
Dear Father,
Our hearts are filled with overflowing gratitude today to You and for Your gift of life to each one of us. Thank you for fearfully and wonderfully designing each one of us by Your hand, in Your image, knitting us together in the womb for Your pleasure and Your glory. Lead us today and every day to cherish and honor the breath of life You breathed into each person. Soften the hearts of those who are hardened to the lives around them, deeming the weak, helpless, and frail as worthless. Change their minds, their thinking, and their outlook to see life as the treasured gift from You. Restore the beauty of the sanctity of life to our nation and to our world.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Photo Credit: ©Fallon Michael/Unsplash
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
Listen to the Your Nightly Prayer Podcast
We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer, where you can sign up to receive it every evening in your inbox. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on God. Check out an episode below:
Struggling with acceptance or feeling misunderstood? Remember, your true identity is found in being fully known and loved by God. Let His unconditional love be your anchor, and rest tonight in the assurance that you are cherished beyond measure. Listen to this episode of Your Nightly Prayer, and if you like what you hear, subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss a new episode!
Now that you've prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below
