In John’s account of his vision
regarding the end of time, he mentions a golden bowl “full of incense,
which are the prayers of the saints.”
That phrase caused me to wonder if
my prayers and petitions smell like incense to God?
As I think about it, I am afraid
that instead of a sweet aroma – many of my prayers may have a whiff of
selfishness.
I fear that at times my prayers are
so routine they may be stale and moldy.
Even worse, sometimes in my self-pity they may carry the unpleasant
smell of my egotistical heart with them.
As a loving Father I know that God hears
my prayers as the cries of His child and is moved by them…but this verse
challenges me to make them a sweeter offering.
But how do we do that?
Prayers of gratitude would be a
refreshing change to our King. The habit
of seeing His hand on every good thing in our lives would produce prayers that
not only please God but strengthen us.
Prayers that lift up the needs of others
also please God – As a daddy myself, I know that nothing touches my heart more
than someone who loves my kids.
But the most important element in
our prayers is faith…the bible is clear that without faith it is impossible to
please God. Prayers that carry the sweet scent of confidence are the most
pleasing to our Savior.
So, pray like you mean it. Be grateful. Pray for others. Pray big and
expect results.
God is not moved by routinely
recited prayers that do not impact the heart of the one that is praying. And He
is not moved by request that we do not believe will be answered.
Spend today creating the sweet scent
of honest prayers. Open your heart and allow the faith, gratitude, and
dependency you have in God to fill Heaven with the sweet aroma of a child’s loving,
confident, appeal to their Father.
“Prayer and praise are the oars by
which a man may row his boat into the deep waters of the knowledge of Christ.”
– Charles Spurgeon
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