Reveration Blog
5/28/2016 0 Comments Incense--Fragrant PrayerWalking into my office downstairs I was immediately aware of a great aroma. That observation was quickly followed by one of relief. I had left my fragrance lamp on all night and that could have been a fire hazard. Fortunately, the melted eucalyptus/mint-laced wax cubes created a wonderful scent and nothing had overheated. Meditation Psalm 141:2—May my prayer be set before You as incense, the raising of my hands as the evening offering. I am thankful to King David for his descriptive writing. Too often I approach God with a list of requests or a hurried agenda. It makes me wonder if before His throne I’m more like the person who fails to bathe and gives off an unpleasant body odor.
To create a fragrant atmosphere requires a deliberate thoughtfulness. In the preceding verse in Psalm 141 David wrote, “LORD, I call on You; hurry to help me. Listen to my voice when I call on You.” On the surface that sounds pretty rushed and demanding. But David has a righteous, God-honoring motive. Psalm 141 is a purposeful prayer for protection: against sinning and from sinners. Israel’s leader is concerned for his own purity and for safety from wicked people because He knows his Father hates sin and is His protector. When we raise our hands before God, it may be an act of worship and praise, or it may be to implore His favor and assistance. This act becomes an offering when our hearts are set on pleasing the Lord. Similarly, when we approach God with reverence our requests take on the right aroma. My heart feels lighter no matter what I’m facing if my time in prayer is lifted as incense. To think that I could please the One who created me motivates me to be more conscious of how and why I come before Him. Lord let me be as a fragrant lamp before You! Inspiration Coming to see prayer as communion and not just communication changes its place in our Christian life.—Skye Jethani in with ©2016 Daniel York ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause. If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box. Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice. Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth. (Holman CSB)
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Photo from Rachel Maxey Miles