Inspired by. . . incense

Inspired by. . . incense

 

I have this little book that I try to read every day, morning and night. It's called The Daily Light and it is a collection of scripture verses. No commentary, just scripture. What I love about it the most is that each daily collection of scripture, although taken from different places in the Bible, all relate to the same theme or topic. It reaffirms, time and again, the cohesiveness of the Bible.

I love that.

This was what I read a few nights ago, and I've been thinking about these verses ever since.

 

Let my prayer be accepted as sweet-smelling incense in your presence.

Let the lifting up of my hands in prayer be accepted as an evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2

 

The smoke from the incense went up from the angel's

hand to God along with the prayers of God's people. Rev 8:4

 

 

You come to him as living stones, a spiritual house that is being built into a holy priesthood.

So offer spiritual sacrifices that God accepts through Jesus Christ.  1Pet 2:5

 

That is why he is always able to save those who come to God through him.

He can do this because he always lives and intercedes for them. Heb 7:25

 

Also, when Aaron lights the lamps at dusk, he must burn incense.

For generations to come an incense offering must burn

constantly in the LORD'S presence. Ex 30:8

 

Never stop praying. 1 Thess 5:17

 

These verses have helped me to become more intentional when I pray. They remind me what my prayers truly are, Who hears them, and how they reach His ear.

In the temple the incense was to be kept burning at all times. It was a pleasing aroma to the Lord. So to are our prayers, when offered by faith. For without faith it is impossible to please God. Just as the incense was to be burned perpetually, Paul tells us to pray without ceasing.

 

 

I love the thought of my prayers rising up to God's ear. The verse from Revelation says they went up from the hand of the angel. What a beautiful picture. Beautiful because God is pleased to receive our prayers, just as the aroma of the incense in the temple was pleasing to Him.

How can a mighty, all-powerful and righteous God be pleased by my paltry prayers? Because they come to Him bathed in the blood of His precious Son, Jesus. Jesus lives to intercede for us - He is the conduit by which we come before the throne of the Heavenly Father.

 

 

I don't fully understand how our prayers, uttered in a world bound by time, heard by a timeless God, can make a difference. But they do.

Is your incense burning?

 

Blessings,

 

 

A note about the images: all images are public domain, except the candle, which is mine. Textured with Bonnie's Medieval Magic and Old Tablecloth

 

Sharing inspiration here: