Our Prayer Life

    Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand.    (Rev 8:3-4)

 

 

I've been thinking alot about the prayer life.  There are so many theological questions I have about the reason we pray, and admittedly many of them are a bit self centered.  However, in light these words recorded in scripture, many of those questions move to the back burner given the primacy and value of our prayers in God's eyes.  It doesn't say the works of the saints, the nice things we do for others, or even the martyrs sacrifice are closest to Him.  It's our prayers that are so dear to Him that God keeps them close and in front of Him at all times.

 

Both as a pastor and as a paramedic, I've been in hundreds of homes.  One thing I've noticed- people surround themselves with what they treasure.  A brief look inside the living room of a person's home will show what they treasure most- perhaps it's pictures showing family, a banner or wall hanging showing a favored sports team, or an expensive entertainment center. 

 

God however doesn't have (or even need) any of these in his immediate proximity.  Instead, our Lord has the most precious thing to him in the favored position in His home- the prayers that the saints of God (thats you and me if you are a follower of Jesus!).  Prayer is so precious to Him that in both the Temple on Earth and the Temple in heaven, the bible records the altar of incense, representing prayer, to be the first thing God sees looking out from His throne.  It is the closest thing to His presence, and the thing that brings God the greatest joy.

 

Remember that when you are having a struggle with or if you question the need for a prayer life.  Second only to your initial salvation experience when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, your prayers touch the heart of God more than anything else in creation.