February 24.
Predictable Prayer

Acts 3:1

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

Peter and John were not just going just to be going; it was prayer time. They had a unique habit of showing up at church three times a day for prayer. They could have prayed in other places, but they thought it good to go to the temple to pray. Let me tell you it’s a good habit to actually schedule your prayer. Many people pray haphazardly. They pray in crunches, or if it’s convenient. But how many of us actually set out a specific time everyday for prayer where we say, “I’m not going to let anything interfere with me in this hour.” The cell phone is turned off along with the TV; the VCR, and the radio, because I need to have some time to talk to my heavenly father. If you ever get in the routine of praying you will look forward to the hour of prayer. When you learn how to sure enough pray, you will know you get strength from prayer. Some say, “I get great consolation when I pray. When I kneel in prayer knowing that the Lord will meet me there, I get strength on my journey.” Can you imagine a personal God giving you twenty-four hours a day and you won’t take one to tell him thank you? If you take life for granted, let me recommend several places you ought to visit. Start out at the mental hospital and go watch folk that look just like you, that used to live on your street, but their minds are disturbed and confused. Next, stop by any hospital in town and stroll down by the cancer ward, the diabetics ward, the burn ward, and the place where they fix up folk that have been shot and cut and realize you could be there instead. Stop complaining for a little while and tell him thank you that you can travel in freedom, that God brought us from no doors to a lot of doors, from the ghettos to the get mores. The reason you are here today is because God has kept you. So take some time each day to come before your Keeper.