Day 183: Job 24-25; Acts 10:26-48

Praying people seek holiness and people who embrace holiness (being Christlike) pray. This is the proposition of E.M. Bounds, and Cornelius bears it out (Acts 10). It was in prayer (the habit and practice of it) that Cornelius was directed to Peter. It was in prayer that God directed Peter to go. Prayer was central to the meeting that took place, and as a result of the meeting, the Bible records the 'Gentile Pentecost.' Peter is testifying to this very moment in Acts 15:8-9 when he describes the work of Pentecost as God, the Heart-knower, 'cleansing their hearts through faith.' This cleansing is another expression of the purifying, sanctifying work of holiness. Bounds concludes why there is less praying in his day (he died in 1913): "The church is not producing praying men and women, because the church is not intently engaged in this one great work of holiness."

Lord draw us more deeply into prayer that we may live more Christlike lives every day and as we embrace holiness, draw us more deeply into prayer.