mid-afternoon praise⛅🌳🌻

be thou my vision X the doxology X yet not i but through Christ in me

In the 10th chapter of the book of Acts, God gives a fantastic word to Peter. He reveals that the gospel of salvation is for everyone! "And [Peter] said to [Cornelius and his company], 'You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean'" (Acts 10:28). This is such a beautiful and incredible story on its own, but what struck me the most about this story is it's beginning. In verse 9 it says, "Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour (3pm) to pray" (Acts 10:9). Then of course, while Peter is praying God reveals this vision to him that makes him understand that salvation is for ALL of God's children! But what would've happened if Peter hadn't set aside time in the afternoon to pray and sit alone with God? The revelation that salvation also comes to the Gentiles (those of us who are not Jews) was conceived in mid-afternoon prayer that Peter set aside and God used for one of His greatest blessings and truths to be understood. In other words, how much more could God be reveling to us if we set aside time halfway through the day, just to touch base with our Heavenly Father? Throughout Jesus' life as a human man, He prays a lot in solitude with His Father! What a great example for us!

I have had the great joy of having some afternoons of nothingness to myself in my home. This February has been warm. The skies have been blue and the sun had been radiant. My cat and I lay in patches of daylight on the rug and I have all the time in the world to dive into the Word. These are not meaningless things God has put in my life. I have been trying to be more diligent to pray. To read the Bible. To actually care about my time WITH GOD! I have been encouraged and challenged by Peter's rooftop prayer time and have been trying to put it into my afternoon too. How much might God reveal to me if I sit and pray halfway through the day? What can God do in me if I check in with Him before the day is gone?

What might God have for you if you take a moment to slow down, praise, and listen?💛💛💛He loves you so much, my friend.