On the eve of the 40 Days for Life Campaign kickoff, take an in-depth look at the other part of prayer. Fasting is a biblical and essential part of seeking God. This is especially true in regards to praying for the lives of the unborn. On this episode of the 40 Days for Life podcast Shawn, Steve, and Robert discuss the why’s and how’s of spiritual fasting so that you can be ready for the upcoming campaign.
It’s no secret that American culture is one of excess. Our plates tower ever higher with the richest and fattiest of foods while our appetite for self-control dwindles. What better way is there to go against the grain and offer God a sacrifice of praise than spiritual fasting? However, food isn’t the only way we can engage in a fast. Find out how you can recover your hunger for God and experience immense spiritual growth on this episode of the podcast.
Part of the reason why fasting is so difficult for some people is that they bite off more than they can chew. It’s as if we miss some imaginary mark by being unable to go days on end without food. The reality is that by setting unrealistic goals in spiritual fasting we are only making ourselves miserable and missing the point entirely. This episode will show you how to use fasting as a reminder to pray for the unborn through small sacrifices and how not to miss the purpose of fasting in the process.
Often times it can be difficult to see self-denial as a good thing. Our culture trains us to reject anything that doesn’t make us feel good. In fact, we spend our whole lives trying to live comfortably. Yet pursuing Jesus calls us to a certain level of discomfort. Fasting certainly confirms that statement. Learn how living a life that is willing to give up physical comforts for a season can reap a lifetime of spiritual benefits on this episode of the 40 Days for Life podcast.
Many people would say that one of the greatest struggles in their Christian walk is learning how to hear the voice of God. Our world moves at such a deafening pace that slowing down enough to hear what the Lord is saying seems like an impossible task. However on this episode of the 40 Days for Life podcast you will learn how our guest Father Drew Olson’s decision to slow down and pray at a 40 Days for Life vigil led to a life-long call to ministry and a passion for the pro-life movement. Father Drew also has some incredible insights into the power of prayer and how you can engage God right where you’re at.
Asking God for the things we need is an important part of our relationship with Him. However, sometimes the most profound moments of provision don’t happen in the asking but rather in the silence. In this episode Father Drew discusses the importance of silence as a spiritual discipline and why it is an essential step in learning how to hear the voice of God. Find out how you can drown out distractions and practically apply silence to your prayer life.
Praying in the face of such overwhelming darkness can be a daunting task for anyone. It is the goal of the enemy to use our present circumstance to discourage our future victory. It’s easy to feel hopeless when you can’t see fruit, but God has a way of bringing fruitfulness to the most desperate of situations. Learn how Father Drew’s time at 40 Days for Life prayer vigil changed his life forever and showed him how to hear the voice of God even when it’s hard to know if He is there at all.
Prayer is something that is more caught than it is taught. There is something contagious about continually committing yourself to pursue God in prayer. Once it gets inside you prayer has a way of becoming more of who you are than what you do largely because you begin learning how to hear the voice of God through it. The challenge lies in where to start. In this episode Father Drew discusses how life change is a natural byproduct of making prayer a central part of your faith walk. He goes on to discuss several practical tips on how you can make that a reality in your own life.
If prayer is an invitation to amplify God’s voice in our own lives, then praying for others is a way to amplify His voice in theirs. Whether it’s praying at two o'clock in the morning during a 40 Days for Life vigil or sidewalk counseling a young mother considering abortion, our prayers matter. They have an impact. Listen to Father Drew’s take on how to hear the voice of God by praying for others. This can not only change your life but it may save the life of another.
If you were to consider who the worst serial killer in American history is, the name of the person who deserves the title is not one you've likely heard on the evening news. That’s because the media and the authorities who should have ensured this man’s atrocities were never possible, turned a blind eye to his actions. On this episode of the 40 Days for Life podcast you’ll hear the incredible true story of Kermit Gosnell, an abortionist who not only performed late-term abortions but even killed babies after they were entirely out of the womb and struggling for life. Our guest on this episode of the 40 Days for Life podcast is filmmaker and writer Ann McElhinney.
In order to hear about the horrific things Kermit Gosnell was allowed to do in his Philadelphia abortion clinic, there’s no better way to learn about it than to go see the upcoming movie, “Gosnell.” But an important thing to note about the true story is that those who served on the jury were more horrified by the actions allowed under current abortion law than they were with what convicted murderer, Kermit Gosnell did. On this episode Ann McElhinney describes the reaction of those who served on the jury when they became aware of the normal practices of those who work in the abortion industry, so be sure you listen.
The abortion industry is tightly regulated. How is it possible that the worst serial killer in American history could do what he did under the guise of performing legal abortions? After investigating and understanding the ins and outs of what really happened, filmmaker Ann McElhinney believes that those in places of authority who are charged with inspecting and verifying the cleanliness and practices of those practicing abortions are guilty of dereliction of duty and should be in prison for what they failed to do in the case of Kermit Gosnell. Hear Ann describe the terrible consequences of the “look the other way” practices of the Department of Health officials in Philadelphia on this episode.
Ann McElhinney has heard pro-choice advocates dress up their comments in the most flowery language possible to throw those outside the abortion industry off the track of what is really going on in abortion clinics. She says that anytime she hears a pro-choice person talking about “the good of the children,” she immediately feels uneasy. That’s because in her experience it’s one of the many phrases used to cloak practices that are not in any way in the interest of children or their mothers. Find out why Ann is suspicious of such talk and hear what she’s seen that makes her so skeptical of good-sounding language on this episode.
When you first hear that Ann’s new movie, “Gosnell” is about the trial of the worst serial killer in American history, you may feel that it’s a movie you won’t want to go see. But you’ll be happily surprised at the hopeful conclusion of the movie and the powerful way it tells how a few brave people brought about incredible good from a horrific chain of events. The movie is crafted in a way that is not sappy or unrealistic, the acting is excellent, and the impact of the victim’s stories is highlighted in a way that truly changes hearts. Go see “Gosnell” when it comes out in October of 2018, and get the book as well.
There are many legitimate reasons why people decide not to participate in a 40 Days For Life prayer vigil. On this episode, you’ll hear the guys talk about a number of them. But this episode is not about the good reasons for not coming to a prayer vigil, it’s about the lame ones. Listen in as Shawn, Steve, and Robert highlight and bust the top 5 reasons people give for not participating in a 40 Days For Life prayer vigil. You just might hear YOUR excuse among them.
The 40 Days For Life campaign in your community is intentionally designed to be easy for anyone to participate in, no matter how busy your schedule is. The “I’m busy” excuse just won’t cut it. In this episode, you’ll hear why anyone can find one hour of their day - no matter how busy it is - to attend and participate at a local 40 Days For Life prayer vigil. You’ll also hear how many people have done so and have seen God save lives, free abortion workers from their bondage to the paycheck the abortion providers sign, and more.
Anytime you see footage on the evening news of a protest or demonstration, you usually see the clips of the gatherings that became violent. That’s why the 40 Days For Life campaign is not designed around the typical “protest” approach. Instead, the organizers are leading prayer vigils - intentionally peaceful gatherings designed to ask the Prince of Peace, Jesus to bring His peace and healing into the lives of everyone at the location - mothers, children, doctors, workers - anyone. And on top of that, the 40 Days For Life leaders are trained in the very latest safety protocols. Learn why you don’t have to be concerned about safety at a 40 Days For Life prayer vigil, on this episode.
The denominational divisions that have happened historically in the church have oftentimes happened for a good reason. But it’s a shame when Christians allow those divisions to keep them divided and they refuse to join together for greater purposes. Those who say that a 40 Days For Life vigil is too ____________ (fill in with your denomination of choice) simply don’t know the facts. The 40 Days For Life movement is the largest ecumenical movement in the nation, bringing together Protestants, Catholics, Jews, and more for the sake of saving unborn lives. Find out why denominations are the least important thing about a 40 Days For Life campaign, on this episode.
The perceptions people have of what happens at a 40 Days For Life campaign are often inaccurate and untrue. For example, people sometimes have the idea that those participating in a 40 Days For Life prayer vigil are shouting at the women entering abortion facilities, or are standing in their way to prevent them from entering. Neither of those perceptions is true. The gatherings are peaceful and prayerful, asking Jesus to do a great work in the lives of the women, children, and workers at the facility - and the people who are praying at the vigil are available to help, not to harm. Learn why 40 Days For Life prayer vigils are not confrontational, on this episode.