Fire of Prayer
"I pray because ...
God always intended to bring humans in on the act,
without letting them get proud in the process."
~ Tom Wright
: : :
And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth.
~ Revelation 8:4-5 (NKJV)
Like the fire line (or firebreak) which is burned in the hope it will provide protection from a fire which might destroy protected area on the other side, our prayers for His mercy are currently presenting a barrier to God's wrath against humanity. Our prayers are even called incense, offered before the throne of God as a soothing aroma to Him.
One day, the church will be raptured from the earth. In an interesting turn of events, our prayers will provide the fire for the trumpet tribulations—cast down in various forms of fire—upon the remaining inhabitants of the earth.
I'm not sure what conclusion might be drawn from all that. But seeing the connection brings to mind the above quote and the below verse:
"For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you."
~ 1 Samuel 12:22-23 (NKJV)
What other thoughts can you offer?
Lord, teach us to pray. Help us be faithful to pray without ceasing—without giving up. Thank You for the privilege of allowing us to be engaged with Your will.
I appreciate hearing from you. Questions are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments or e-mail me—my address is
buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com.
Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image source: iamthewordthecomforter.blogspot.com
Amen, may we never fail to gift Him with our prayers. I love you sis.
ReplyDeleteFirelines. Incense. Trumpet blasts. Raptures. This too is what I read in the Bible: grace and mercy, love and compassion, yes...and fire and passion, judgment and wrath.
ReplyDeleteYet too many continue to see Jesus as a "good example" or a "great teacher". And this from "Christians" which large platforms and huge megaphones.
I know it should not surprise me. Powers and principalities are strongly against The Church.
But it does surprise me.
I will pray today, for clarity for ALL of us in these difficult days.
Denise ~
ReplyDeleteThough we may live with an awareness of His continual presence, we'll never be able to pray as much as we need, as He deserves.
Gwen ~
ReplyDelete"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
His pleasure is that you have the kingdom to come, when He reigns on the earth, and that you have the kingdom now, as He reigns in your heart.
Be at peace, sweet Gwen. Rest in His gentleness with you.
I truly believe some are called to different types of prayer, but everyone can experience the joy and life in a prayer conversation. You stirred up such wonderful thoughts in me today. Thanks Anne.
ReplyDeleteOur prayers being like a fine fragrance! I love that. Maybe that's why I like smells so much, b/c they evoke something in all of us.
ReplyDelete~ Wendy
"it has pleased the LORD to make you His people." Pleased. That sits well with me.
ReplyDeleteI do feel the more I push into the Lord the more He reveals Himself to me in unspeakable clarity.
Anne, (I may have asked this before) have you ever seen Louie Giglio's "Indescribable" DVD? His glory shines in that.
I never thought of our prayers as a fire line of protection--and provide a sweet smoke of cover. Great thoughts.
ReplyDeleteJason ~
ReplyDeleteGood! I don't think we can have too many prayer encouragements.
Wendy ~
ReplyDeleteI love that the OT refers to the offerings as both "sweet aroma" and "soothing aroma." I wonder how much of the Lord's mercy is simply an answer to the sweet aroma of prayer.
T ~
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Louie Giglio. I've seen some of his messages, but don't know their names. Louie is one man on fire for the Lord with a gift for sharing Him that is absolutely phenomenal. I don't think I could ever tire of hearing him.
Snady ~
ReplyDeleteI'm convinced that if we really understood the power of prayer we'd spend much more time in it. (I wish I never let life get in the way ...)