How does Acts 10:31 encourage us to trust in God's response to prayer? Stepping into Cornelius’ Living Room Acts 10 drops us into the home of Cornelius, a Gentile centurion who “feared God with all his household” (v. 2). While he is praying, an angel arrives with startling news: “Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms have been remembered before God.” (Acts 10:31) This single sentence tells an entire story about the character of God and the certainty of His response to prayer. What Acts 10:31 Declares About God’s Heart • He hears: Prayer is not an echo in an empty room. The Almighty listens attentively. • He remembers: Our petitions and our deeds never fade from His sight. • He acts: The angel’s visit sets in motion Peter’s arrival, Cornelius’s salvation, and the opening of the gospel to the Gentiles. Why We Can Trust His Response • God’s track record is flawless. From Abraham’s plea for Lot (Genesis 19) to Hannah’s cry for a son (1 Samuel 1), Scripture repeats one chorus: “The LORD remembers.” • He responds in perfect timing. Cornelius prayed at “the ninth hour” (v. 3). Meanwhile, Peter was being prepared in Joppa (vv. 9–16). God synchronized two separate lives to meet in one glorious moment. • His answers overflow our requests. Cornelius asked for guidance; God gave him salvation and the Holy Spirit (vv. 44–48). Living This Truth Today • Keep praying—heaven records every word. • Hold steady between prayer and answer; unseen gears are turning. • Expect more than you imagine; He delights to exceed. Complementary Scriptures • 1 John 5:14–15 — “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” • Jeremiah 33:3 — “Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things you do not know.” • Psalm 34:15 — “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.” • James 5:16 — “The prayer of a righteous man has great power and produces wonderful results.” Wrapping It Up Acts 10:31 is more than a historical note; it’s a living promise. The God who heard Cornelius still hears, remembers, and moves. Pray with confidence—His answer is already underway. |
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