There was a man named Cornelius who lived in Caesarea, captain of the Italian Guard stationed there. He was a thoroughly good man. He had led everyone in his house to live worshipfully before God, was always helping people in need, and had the habit of prayer. One day about three o’clock in the afternoon he had a vision. An angel of God, as real as his next-door neighbor, came in and said, “Cornelius.” Acts 10:1-3 MSG
I love the story of Cornelius and Peter. It’s a beautiful story of God’s sovereignty, His plans and power, obedience, surrender, trust, and unity across lines of difference. While reading the story, a certain line stuck out at me that had not quite grabbed me before: “… [he] had the habit of prayer.” Cornelius is described as a good man. The Bible describes him as one who helped those in need, who led his family and house to live in worship before the Lord, and as one with the habit of prayer.
After describing Cornelius and his attributes, the story continues that an angel of the Lord revealed himself to both Peter and Cornelius resulting in the two meeting, and Cornelius becoming saved through Jesus. I have to wonder, would Cornelius have caught the revelation if he had not been in the habit of prayer? Would he have been able to discern the dream without his habit of prayer?
The Bible provides many examples on the benefits of prayer:
The peace of God (Phil 4:6-7): By presenting our prayer and petitions to God in prayer, God promises to guard our hearts and minds in Christ and keep us in peace.
God will sustain you (Psalm 55:22): When we cast our cares on Him, He sustains us and ensures that the righteous are not shaken.
Grants wisdom (James 1:5): God promises that if we lack wisdom to face our life situations, He will grant it to us, if only we ask Him.
The presence of the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13) God gives us the Holy Spirit to be present with us in all situations and provide guidance, peace, and spiritual insights.
So what about you, are you in the habit of prayer?
Reflection
Do you prioritize spending time with your Creator to tell Him all about your troubles and to hear what He has to say to you on the matter? What’s stopping you from cultivating a habit of prayer in your life? What shifts do you need to make in order to prioritize prayer in your life? What benefits might you reap from a consistent prayer life?
Prayer
Lord, thank You for the opportunity to speak with You and to hear from You. Forgive me of the times I decided to not talk to You and live life without your input and guidance. Help me to cultivate a habit of prayer and discern all that You have in store for me. Remove any distractions that would keep me from spending time with You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Photo by Samuel Martins on Unsplash
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