How does God picture our prayers? Does He treat them as trivial or as a sweet odour, a pleasant smelling incense? Let’s begin in Psalm 141.
A Psalm by David. (WEB)
When we think our prayers are silly or trite, how does David ask God to view them?
I pray to you, Lord! Please listen when I pray and hurry to help me. Think of my prayer as sweet-smelling incense, and think of my lifted hands as an evening sacrifice. (Ps 141:1-2 CEV)
Do we watch the words that come out of our mouths, or are we too quick to slander others and use filthy words?
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies! (Ps 14:3-4 ESV)
When we are corrected, do we humbly accept it or ignore it as unwanted criticism?
Let the righteous one strike me—it is an act of faithful love; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. Even now my prayer is against the evil acts of the wicked. When their rulers will be thrown off the sides of a cliff, the people will listen to my words, for they are pleasing. As when one plows and breaks up the soil, turning up rocks, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol. (Ps 140:5-7 HCSB)
In a world with many traps, to whom do we look for ultimate protection?
Nevertheless, my eyes are on you, Lord God, as I seek protection in you. Don’t leave me defenseless! Protect me from the trap laid for me and from the snares of those who practice evil. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I come through. (Ps 140:8-10 ISV)
Did God honor this Psalm by confirming that the prayers of the saints are like incense?
Then I saw in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and in the midst of the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. And He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sits on the throne. And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. (Rev 5:6-8 LSB)
How does God picture our prayers? Does He treat them as trivial or as a sweet odour, a pleasant smelling incense? You decide!
