I have had times in my life where prayer was non-existent. Oh sure, there were the meal time prayers. And the prayers before bed with the kids. There were the ones shot up in frustration when parking spaces were not to be found at the mall or when I couldn’t find something in a hurry.

It took a crisis to help me learn and develop, what I would like to call, a habit of prayer. Prayer which came from a devoted time of Scripture reading and spending time with God on a regular basis.

In the book of Acts, we are introduced to a Roman army officer named Cornelius …

“He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God.” (Acts 10:2, NLT)

Cornelius was a man who had developed a habit of prayer. Regularly means he had set times in which he prayed or that prayer was an ordinary part of his day. Scripture goes on to tell us the result of this habit …

“One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision….” (verse 3)

Mark Batterson goes on to explain ….

“When you prayer regularly, you never know when God will show up or speak up. Today could be the day. When you live in prayer mode, you live with holy anticipation. You know that coincidences are providences. Any moment can turn into a holy moment. God can invade the reality of your life at three o-clock one afternoon and change everything.” (The Circle Maker, page 67)

Prayer is what will make us live with holy anticipation that God will show up in our circumstances. In our days. Regular times of prayer brought results in the life of Cornelius, “One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision….” (verse 3).

Prayer causes us to lean in a little bit closer, to wait with a hope and expectancy for His response ….

• “I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.” (Psalm 34:4)
• “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.” (Psalm 40:1)
• “I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” (Psalm 116:1-2)

He bends down to listen. God Almighty, Maker of everything and He bends to listen to each one of us. He bends, He turns to listen intensely, closely (Old Testament Lexical Aids) so as not to miss a single word we are saying.

“Speak to Him, thou,

for He hears, and

Spirit with spirit can meet.

Closer is He than breathing,

and nearer than hands and feet.”

(Alfred, Lord Tennyson)

This is Day 16 of 31 Days Of Going In Circles. You can find the entire series here .

Today I am joining … Thought Provoking Thurs. and Coffee for Your Heart and Thurs. Favorite Things and Hearts For Home .