Our Prayers Matter
Do you pray without ceasing? Do you spend enough time with Jesus? Here’s some incentive to pray more. I was reading the fifth chapter of The Revelation to John when I came across this “they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. (Rev.5:8, NIV)
Our prayers are honored more than we can ever know. They are lovingly brought to God by angels. Our prayers join the eternal worship of God. Our prayers matter. Our prayers are heard and cherished. Why don’t we value prayer if the other side of the time barrier do?
Anne Ortlund writes “What a lofty, all-encompassing business prayer is! We lift our hearts to God, and we discover we have joined a numberless company around the world and in heaven itself! We have left time and moved into eternity! We have, in a sense, shed our mortal bodies and moved, ahead of schedule, into our future glory with Him!”
Prayer is so much more than we can ever understand. But we don’t need to understand it to practice it. Prayer is our way to spend time with God. Prayer is to be part of God’s kingdom already on this green earth. There really is nothing better than abiding in God. Yet we don’t pray much. What’s wrong with us?
God wants to bring us wholeness and abundant life. We somehow manage to thwart that by keeping away from the presence of God. We settle for less than God has intended to us. We live prayer-less, self-destructive lives when wholeness and abundant life is offered. Without the Holy Spirit we are indeed stuck with self-deception. But the aid of the Holy Spirit is available to us. The company of God is only a whisper away.
Gracious God,
You are so good.
We are so lost without you.
Help us to understand our prayers matter.
Show us what it means to bask in your love and care.
Fill us with your Spirit.
Let us experience all that you have for us.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Q4U: Do you believe that our prayers matter? Do you put that in practice?
Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you dedicate more time for prayer!
Image courtesy of ochristian.com, design Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with Sharing His Beauty, Unforced Rhythms, Playdates with God.
8 thoughts on “Our Prayers Matter”
Such a lovely image to picture the angels carrying our prayers to God. If we could maintain that thought, we would pray more often! Thanks for this strong reminder to do so, Mari-Anna.
That’s what I though too. We are part of God’s kingdom and what we do matters for the whole body of Christ. Thank you, sweet Lisa! May God continue to bless, keep & guide you!
I remember the incense as a child during Mass – and the image in the scripture – I can visualize and smell the image of our prayers being carried to God. Thank you for reminding of God’s care and the holiness of our prayers!
You’re welcome, friend! Glad this post blessed you. And thanks so much for sharing your memories. So good! Abundant blessings to you!
Such a beautiful reminder…may my words and prayers and walking-around-life be lived as a prayer to my Jesus. Thank you for linking up with the Small Wonder Community.
Thank you, Jody. Great to see you over here! And Amen to your prayer! Blessings to you!
A beautiful reminder that our prayers do matter & they are always before Him. So grateful to have stopped here this afternoon. Blessings!
Yes, our prayers are always before Him, part of the eternal worship of God. Priceless. Thank you, Joanne, for stopping by and leaving some comment love. God bless you, sis!