Prayer.
yes, again.
It’s always on my mind. Something I want to improve but something I’m not practicing enough.
I’m in the midst of a study of the Book of Revelation led by Emily Belle Freeman and David Butler. the Book of Revelation has always been a puzzle to me so I was excited when they announced this class and I’m getting a ton out of this little 6 week course.
Anyway, this week as I was studying in Revelations chapters 5-8 I read these verse.
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of aodours, which are the bprayers of saints.
And then I got to Revelation 8 and read these verses.
3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much aincense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the aprayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.
I hadn’t yet gone into a deep dive study of what these verses meant but I want to tell you today about how I felt abut what is said here.
I have always thought about prayer similarly to a child (me) going to a parent to ask for things with high hopes that I could have them. I would say thank you for the stuff they had done for me or given me and I would make a little small talk and then hope to have softened them up enough for a yes answer.
Funny, right?
This week it kind of began the process of changing around in my mind because of these verses. God loves our prayers. They are sweet to him like the smell of incense. He looks forward to hearing from us. Sort of like a mom on Mother’s Day waiting for her kids to call home. Our prayers are so precious to him that they are kept in golden censers and placed upon a golden alter.
These verses made me want to do better. To check in more often. To ask for help more and to be even more grateful for all that I have in my life.
I have started making a new schedule for my weeks and I intend to make another go at dropping the habits that are distracting me or pulling me away from the things that will draw me closer to Christ. I need the peace and strength he brings. I know that as I draw closer to Christ my knowledge of and love for our Heavenly Father will also grow.
Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash
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