Let my prayer be counted as incense before you
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! (Psalm 141:2 ESV)
The Psalmist requests God, asking Him to receive his prayers as incense and the lifting up his hands as the evening sacrifice. God commanded the priests to offer incense as a sweet-smelling sacrifice to God in the Temple. They also offered morning and evening burnt offerings to God every day. Therefore, the Psalmist asked God to receive his prayers as a pleasing sacrifice as He received the incense and burnt offerings.
This prayer is not a random desire that links prayer to incense. The Psalmist made a prophetic declaration by the Spirit to reveal the mysteries of the spiritual significance of the sacrifices under the Old Covenant. In Revelations 5:8, the angel offered the prayers of the saints with incense unto God.
There is more about prayer than a means of talking to God and telling Him what we need or how we appreciate or adore Him. As incense, the Lord reveals prayer in itself is a spiritual sacrifice that is well-pleasing to God. He did not say the prayer of worship, petitioning, or intercession. All prayer from a child of God is as incense to God. You are God’s priest. You have the real spiritual sacrifices the Father is seeking for!
Related post: Three dimensions of Prayer.
Meditate
Do you ever lift your hands in prayer? Does this physical gesture matter to the Lord from the verse above?
Apply the Word
This devotional will transform your perspective about prayer if you receive this revelation. You are God’s priest, the real one instead of the shadow of the Old Testament priests. Offer spiritual sacrifices that are pleasant and acceptable to God in Christ!
Pray
Bless the Father for the privilege of accepting our prayers as incense and the evening sacrifice.
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