DAD'S RAMBLINGS – PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS
"Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand." (Revelation 8:3-4)
Do you ever get weary of praying because it seems that your prayers are not heard? I do. It seems my prayers go to the ceiling and bounce back to me.
Why pray when it seems that God does not hear? There are reasons to pray.
The number one reason is that God tells us in His word to pray. "Pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17).
Jesus said to "watch and pray" (Matthew 14:38). He said to pray for those who despitefully use you (Luke 6:28). He said to pray for labors to work in the harvest (Luke 10:2). He said that men ought always to pray and not faint or give up (Luke 18:1). And He taught us to pray (Luke 11:2).
Our prayers are not without virtue. They are not just some meaningless babble, or a form of religious exercise we go through. They are not like a prayer wheel in some religions. They do actually ascend to the Throne Room of Heaven to God Himself. The fervent prayer of the righteous man avails much (James 5:16).
So next time you are discouraged in your prayer life, remember that your prayers are as incense, arising before the throne of God. He may not answer our prayers on our time table or the way we want, but He does hear them.
Love, Dad
No comments:
Post a Comment