The Aroma Of Prayer

The Aroma of Prayer

They held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. Revelation 5:8

THE DRAMATIC SCENE SURROUNDING GOD’S THRONE in the book of Revelation includes twenty-four elders and “four living beings” with multiple eyes, wings, and faces. Each elder and creature was holding a harp and a bowl. The bowls were filled with incense, an image of sweet-smelling pleasure meant to be deeply inhaled. That incense represents the prayers of the saints—the petitions, pleas, and offerings of praise we bring to God. We breathe them out; he breathes them in. It’s a remarkable picture of something far more powerful than words.

Those prayers are later offered along with “much incense” on the golden altar before the throne (8:3, ESV). With fire from the altar added, the prayers are hurled to earth, where spectacular things happen. We get the impression that our prayers reach a tipping point, becoming an aromatic offering to God and returning to earth with holy fire. Something happens to them in the hands of angels and the worshipful atmosphere of heaven. God turns them into powerful instruments of his work on earth.

That ought to be encouraging. We don’t see what happens to our prayers when they leave our mouths or hearts, but apparently they build up and overflow with electrifying results. They may take time—bowls are a reservoir, after all, a holding tank awaiting further use—and we may not understand why. We repeat them with the persistence of faith and multiply them in the fellowship of faith. We make concerted and persistent petitions. But according to the highly colorful and symbolic language of prophetic revelation, they are being held for a time. Only at God’s bidding is the bowl poured out on the altar and fire falls.

Whatever the reason, take heart. Envision your repeated prayers as filling up a bowlful of power and praise. Know that they are a sweet aroma to your Father on his throne. Don’t give up on them; let them build. In the fullness of time, when God is ready to answer, they will be highly valued and powerfully used. They are an act of worship that gives God great pleasure.

The pure prayer that ascends from a faithful heart will be like incense rising from a hallowed altar.