By Beth Morris -

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:11-16 

January 21st is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. Each year, we observe this day to focus on the value of every human life. This day was set aside in remembrance in 1984. Since August 2023, abortion is no longer available in Indiana, but the fight for life is not yet over. This is why voting biblical values is so very important. We need more abstinence education in our homes, churches, and schools. Once the sin is committed, as Christians, we need to come alongside the mother and support her, disciple her, and point her to Jesus.

According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, the Indiana Department of Health received 355 terminated pregnancy reports in August 2023. That’s a 66% decrease from the 1,046 filings in August 2022, according to an IDOH annual report. They received just 13 filings in September and 12 in October — 98% and 97% decreases from the 737 and 447 reports filed during those months last year. As I said earlier, the fight is not over. As medical abortions decrease, the chemical abortions have increased. When one way is blocked, the enemy opens other doors and avenues. Turning our hearts and lives to the Lord is the only way this will end. Only when we realize that we are created in the very image of our Holy God will our hearts break when we read these statistics.

In Jeremiah, we read that God knew him before he was born.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

He knows each life and He has a plan for each child growing in the womb. Each stage of life is such a miracle!

Amazing Facts - Here are some amazing life-growth statistics that show you we have a great God:

  • Did you know that no one on the planet has your DNA? You have a code that no one else has. That code is written to make you who you are: your voice, your height, your weight, eye color, hair color. Science cannot explain it because God wrote it.
  • In your mother’s womb, God gave you a yolk sack to feed you until the placenta that you grew in could feed you, and at around 3 weeks after conception, your heart started beating in your momma’s womb.
  • At 7 weeks, you could hiccup; at 8 weeks, God gave you eyelids. At 9 weeks, you were just 1.6 inches and could suck your thumb. Shortly thereafter you had brainwaves, and your heartbeat could be detected on an ultrasound.
  • At 12 weeks, your taste buds formed, and by 13 weeks you were 2.9 inches long. At 16 weeks, your respiratory system was almost completely formed.
  • Your fingerprints began to form at around 10 weeks into pregnancy and were complete by the 17th week of gestation. By the 18th week you were 6.5 inches long.
  • At 20 weeks, your inner ear was formed, and you were 11.4 inches and just over 1 pound. At 24 weeks, you could blink, and you weighed 1.9 lbs. At 28 weeks, you could distinguish between high and low pitch noises.
  • At 35 weeks, you had a firm hand grasp, and at around 40 weeks, you were born and introduced to this world. This shows you how you were knit together in your mother’s womb. You have purpose and are a beautiful masterpiece. There is no one else like you in this world. 

Promote

Don’t forget to promote the Sanctity of Life Sunday at your churches! Here are some ideas on ways to promote:

  • Place a basket in your foyer, and ask your church to fill it with needed items for your local pregnancy resource center. Have a “baby shower,” and have members bring needed items, while enjoying a party with your church family.
  • Our pregnancy resource centers need godly men and women to meet and pray with clients. Encourage your members to volunteer (most resource centers need volunteers!). 

Lastly, and most importantly…

If you have had an abortion, know that you are loved by a forgiving God. If you have unhealed trauma from it, reach out to a good biblical counselor. The trauma even affects the father of the baby as well. Hearts Restored is based in Columbus, Indiana, but serves men and women all over the United States and in some countries outside of the states. They offer confidential classes for those affected by the trauma of abortion. They can be reached at claritycares.org/programs#hearts-restored. If you know of someone needing healing, pass this information along.

References

“Fearfully and Wonderfully Made,” Answers in Genesis, AIG.org

“Indiana Capital Chronicle” https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2023/11/22/indiana-abortions-drop-steeply-after-ban-goes-into-effect-but-dont-hit-zero/

“Indiana Right to Life,” irtl.org

Additional Reading, “The Gospel for Life Series, The Gospel and Abortion” by Russel Moore and Andrew Walker

____________________________________________________________________________________

Beth Morris is the wife of Don Morris, Senior Pastor of Vernon Baptist Church in Vernon, Indiana. They have two grown kids and three sweet granddaughters, one of which is a foster child to her daughter and son-in-law. Beth has a passion for the unborn, foster care, and adoption. She loves speaking truth in love over young girls' lives and meeting them right where they are, just like Jesus did for her, so many years ago. Beth is WMU director for the South Central Association and loves all things missions.