Prayer Touches God He was a devout, God-fearing man … He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. Acts 10:2 NLT In the book of Acts, a centurion named Cornelius received a vision from God. Though a Gentile, this man loved God, praying and fasting regularly. While he prayed, an angel of the Lord told Cornelius that God heard and honored his prayers. Accordingly, God instructed the centurion to go talk to Peter, Gods servant. Peter, having received a vision that God would cleanse and accept anyone whom the Jews deemed unclean, agreed to meet this Gentile despite Jewish law. Cornelius invited his Gentile neighbors, friends, and family members when he met Peter in Caesarea. Realizing God orchestrated this meeting, Peter preached the Gospel to Cornelius and all who joined him, and the entire group of Gentiles received the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-48). Jesus takes note of a praying, giving heart like Cornelius had. Denominations mean little, while a contrite, teachable spirit touches God. Cornelius was a good, God-fearing man who needed to hear about salvation through Christ. So God honored his prayers and led him to the preacher - while teaching the preacher a thing or two at the same time. Have you hesitated to share your faith with someone you think unseemly or beyond your realm of comfort? Begin now. Look what happened when Peter did. Father, forgive me for self-righteousness. Open the way for me to witness to whomever You have prepared to hear the Gospel. Amen. (Daily Wisdom for Women: 2014 Devotional Collection – Barbour Publishing, Inc.)
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 12:00:40 +0000