I remember the day the Lord gave me a heart for the unborn as if it were yesterday.
I was in Dallas, Texas at the 2012 March for Life event at the Earle Cabell Federal Courthouse. It was here that Roe v. Wade was first filed in 1970, a court case ultimately (and infamously) elevated to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973.
39 women walked 250 miles to call America back to life (Photo: Crystal Camacho / Live Action News)
As I watched 39 young women with blistered feet finish their Houston-to-Dallas journey on the courthouse steps, I knew it was no coincidence the Lord had me there that day. They had been participating in a 250-mile walk to call America “back to life.” With tears streaming down my face, I knew I had just received an assignment from the Lord – more like a dream for my life.
My small assignment, or so I thought, was to pray once a week at the closest Planned Parenthood clinic from me (which happened to be only 12 minutes away). I spent many Thursday nights sitting in my car alone in the parking lot: praying, facing the clinic, wondering if I was making a difference.
Should I gather others to come with me? I thought one day. The bigger the better, right? However, that was not what God had in mind. He wanted me to do this alone.
Sometimes my prayers were along the lines of Why am I doing this?, rather than focusing on what and Who I am doing this for. Besides, what effect do the prayers of one teenage girl have anyway?
I wanted to be faithful with the assignment God gave me, yet I found myself occasionally missing some weeks. My spring semester of college ended, so going back home for the summer put it on pause.
Returning to Dallas for my fall semester, I hit the ground running with college. I really want to make time to pray at that clinic, I thought as I looked at my schedule. Early one Wednesday evening, I carved out an hour to quickly go to the clinic to pray – then make it home in time for dinner.
Pulling into the parking lot, I saw a “For Lease” sign across the stripped building.
Photo: A McLin / Flickr
It dawned on me: the clinic was closed. Tears welled up in my eyes as I thought of the little lives who would be saved.
As I sniffed back my runny nose and the “ugly cry” continued, I heard the Lord gently whisper in my ear: “Krystal, I told you that all I needed is you – just one person.” The Lord wanted to show me the power of one girl praying.
Since that moment, He has called me to gather others to pray at other Planned Parenthood clinics in the Dallas area. The Lord took what I was doing by myself, in secret, to being something others could participate in and join. It’s how Father God works.
Praying outside the U.S. Supreme Court for the ending of abortion (Photo: Matt Lockett)
He will often gather a body of believers into teams (such as local Bound4LIFE chapters and 40 Days for Life campaigns) for us to see Him be moved by our prayers as we come into agreement with His heart – His heart for the unborn.
God inclines His ear to the cries of His children. Friends, your prayers are not going unheard! This lesson has been a stepping stone in my life and has led me to respond to God’s next assignments for me with a big yes.
LifeNews Note: Krystal Edens currently serves as a missionary at the Justice House of Prayer DC. She is a graduate of Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas and originally hails from Homer, Alaska. She loves God, family, and living fully for His purposes in this generation. Reprinted with permission from Bound4LIFE International.
