Prayer Smells Good To God
Wednesday, September 30
Exodus 30:7-8 (ESV)
“And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it, and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations.”
Devotion
The Bible teaches that prayer is like incense that rises to God with a pleasing perfume, so we can learn some things about prayer from God’s instructions about the use of incense in ancient Israel’s worship.
As a regular incense offering was to be made “throughout your generations,” we understand that prayer is a feature of a relationship with God for every generation. As we practice prayer in our personal lives, we should also model it for the next generation and invite participation.
Just as the beautiful fragrance of incense was offered every morning and evening, we should pray every day. Prayers of praise, thanksgiving, repentance, help, healing, deliverance, wisdom, and salvation for others—God wants to hear them all. Many Scriptures support that such prayers open the way for God to bless us and to work in us and through us. Sometimes, we do not have because we do not ask (James 4:2). Pastor Franklin bluntly exhorted that a lack of prayer causes us to smell bad, spiritually speaking!
In times of distress, prayers may be offered in tears. These prayers are also precious to God and open the way for Him to provide grace and strength to bear the unbearable, as well as peace that doesn’t make sense in the circumstances (Lamentations 3:22–24). While we intercede for the answer we long for, at the same time, we submit ourselves to God’s authority. We can trust Him for His answer in His timing.
Today's Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I bring to You my prayers, supplications, and requests. Thank You that You are my help in my time of need. I ask for Your peace that passes all understanding. Lead me in Your way, for I trust in You. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Apply It Today
Pray, brothers and sisters, pray. If you don’t know what to pray, get started by using examples from Scripture. If you do not yet know Jesus Christ as your Savior, there are even some promises for you about prayer, including this one: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). God will not despise a prayer of repentance offered in conviction and humility (Psalm 51:17)
Resources
- What does your prayer life smell like before God? Watch this short clip, “The Incense of Prayer,” and be encouraged to draw near to Him in prayer.
- The first step to prayer is praying the Scriptures. Use these in your prayer time:
- Praise — Psalm 103:1–5
- Repentance — Psalm 51:10
- Wisdom — James 1:5
- God’s will — Matthew 6:10
- Peace — Philippians 4:6–7