O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! (Psalms 141:1-2 ESV)

And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. (Revelation 5:8 ESV)

And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. (Revelation 8:3-4 ESV)

Dear Fellowship of the Burning Heart:

As the priest stood in the holy place facing the veil that separated it and the most holy place, he would see the altar of incense with the smoke of burning incense rising before that veil, filling the holy place and penetrating the veil. It is a beautiful picture of how to draw near to the heart of God.

In the morning and evening the incense would be placed on the altar to burn. Specific instructions were given by God concerning its placement so that it would be situated in alignment with the ark of the covenant in the most holy place “where I will meet with you” (Exodus 30:6). It was also a part of the annual atonement ritual because it was “most holy to the Lord” (Exodus 30:10). A special recipe was given for the incense that was used on the altar and it was only to be used for that purpose (Exodus 30:34-38).

As the verses at the top indicate, the fragrant aroma of the incense rising before God in the holy place represents the prayers of the saints rising before the throne of God. What an encouragement to think that God is pleased with the fragrant aroma of our prayers.

What does a life of prayer consist of?

1. There should be regular times of prayer.

(Daniel 6:10 ESV)  When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

2. There should be times of extended prayer.

(Luke 6:12 ESV)  In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.

3. There should be a continual attitude of prayer.

(1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV)  pray without ceasing,

4. There should be confidence in prayer.

(Hebrews 4:16 ESV)  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

5. There should be times of private prayer.

(Matthew 6:6 ESV)  But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

6. There should be times of emotional, passionate prayer.

(Ezra 10:1 ESV)  While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly.

7. Our lives should be marked by prayer.

(Ephesians 6:18 ESV)  praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,