The incense of prayer

Another angel, who had a gold incense container, came and stood at the altar. He was given a lot of incense to add to the prayers of all God’s people and to offer it on the gold altar that stands before the throne. The smoke of the burning incense went up with the prayers of God’s people from the hands of the angel standing before God. (verses 3,4)

Read Revelation 8:1-13

When Christians pray, there is silence in heaven, for God loves to hear the prayers of the saints. But there is more than that. When Christians pray, the worship on earth and the worship in heaven are combined. The whole heavenly host joins in the prayers of Christians, and so Christian prayer is like a great sacrifice of burning incense being wafted up to heaven.

Prayers and incense belong together. In Psalm 141 we read, ‘Receive my prayer as incense, my uplifted hands as an evening sacrifice’ (verse 2). In some ways prayer may be the only sacrifice we can offer to God. What an encouragement for us to know that our prayers are united with the prayers of the hosts of heaven.

What an encouragement for us to pray! What power must result from such prayer! God is moved and takes action in response to prayer. God has commanded us to pray and has promised to hear us. But sometimes we feel that our prayers are so feeble. We can’t find the words, our thoughts wander, and what we say may feel empty and ineffectual. It is at times like this that we need to think of the help that comes from heaven as we pray. Let’s thank God for the angel who brings the incense and adds it to the prayers of God’s people.

Eternal God, join my prayers with those of your servants of every time and every place, and unite them with the ceaseless petitions of our great high priest until he comes as victorious Lord of all. Amen.

by Kevin Schmidt, in ‘God’s Peace for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2006)

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