One of the most beloved hymns is entitled “Sweet Hour of Prayer”. That is the theme of our meditation today. I find it interesting how the words “prayer” and “incense” are found together in Scripture. The Psalmist David wrote, “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice”(Psalm 141:2). David, the man after God’s own heart, asked that his prayer would be as incense before his God. My tendency is to think that my prayers incense the Lord because I am all too aware of the sin that dwells in my flesh. But because of the grace and mercy of Christ, I am accepted by the Father and my prayers, in spite of the remaining corruption that is in my flesh, and it is like a sweet fragrance unto God.
What David asked for in the Psalms is exactly how God receives our prayers in heaven. Just think of it, beloved, when we come to the Father in Jesus’ precious name, our prayers give off a sweet fragrance in heaven. Once again we see the prayer and incense connection in another section of Revelation. “And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand” (Revelation 8:3-4). Here again we are told by God something that we would never know or even believe unless He has said it was so! Our prayers, be they personal or congregational, ascend up before God like a beautiful smelling cloud of incense.
God wants us to know that He not only hears our prayers, but because of the precious blood of Jesus Christ that has removed our sin debt, they are a sweet fragrance before Him as well. Oh that we might believe what God says about how He hears our prayers. May the Holy Spirit give us a fresh revelation of the gift of prayer, the power of prayer, and the necessity of prayer. Come boldly to the throne of grace throughout the day beloved.
