Sometimes we pray in order to check our “prayer time” off our TO DO list. The paradox, however, is that we don’t want God to hear our prayers to just check us off His TO DO list.
King David wanted His prayers to be set before the Lord like incense; A rising, aromatic presence that would linger before the Lord and rouse His senses long after David would depart to get on with his day.
The image of our prayers as a fragrant incense before the Lord serves as a continual reminder that God not only hears our prayers, but also for us to live with the hope, joy and wonder of how God might make Himself known throughout the course of our day.
Think about that for a moment. Some time between breakfast, lunch or dinner it could happen that God may just decide to show up in response to the prayer you set before Him today. It brings an added excitement and anticipation of how we might praise Him before we go to bed, even tonight.
Don’t check your “prayer time” with God off your TO DO list. I’m not saying to burn a candle as a substitute for a sincere and devoted time to be with God in prayer. But to see your prayer time with Him like incense—as something fragrant you want to linger before the Lord as a reminder of your dependence upon Him as you go about your day. Who knows? Maybe God will show up today in a way you never thought could ever happen!
“Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” —Psalms 141:1-2 NKJV