Cornelius FastEgzanp

Day 2 Cornelius – The Gentile who sought the Lord

Reflect

Cornelius was a Roman centurion, an officer in charge of one-hundred soldiers and a Gentile who was known to be "devout and God-fearing". It was not unheard of in 1st Century Judaea for the Roman occupiers to adopt the religion of the Jews. (See Matt. 8)  Cornelius had not taken the required rite of circumcision to become a Jew. Still, he likely practised other elements such as daily prayers and attendance at synagogue.  

Cornelius was a genuine God-seeker and practised a set time of prayer, after the Jewish tradition of praying three times a day. Cornelius "prayed to God regularly." "The ninth hour", that is, 3 pm was the final prayer time of the day. It was in this last prayer time that God sent an angel to speak to Cornelius. 

Respond

What could I do to begin or to maintain a set time of prayer? 

What changes could I make in my life to make space for prayer?

What challenges might I expect?