And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. Rev 8:3-4
This scripture is deeply embedded in my heart since hearing my sister preach from this passage awhile back. Sometimes you hear a Word and it literally leaps off the page and you'll get a right now revelation. It made such an impression in me that whenever I think of the words fragrance and prayers; an indescribable joy comes over me. The definition of fragrance according to the dictionary is an aroma: a distinctive (different from others, uniquely characteristic, distinguishable) scent that is pleasant or sweet smelling. Please remember that definition, because as you continue to read; distinctive and uniquely characteristic become the operative words.
John, while exiled, writes of the vision that the Lord allows him to see. Today, is the opening of the seventh seal and John saw seven angels standing before God with seven trumpets. Then he sees another angel who has a golden censer filled with incense and takes it to the golden altar. The aroma from the smoking censer, as well as the prayers of all the saints would go up before the presence of God; from the angel’s hand directly to God’s nostrils; representation that the offering had been accepted. I envisioned the Catholic priests walking with the long golden rod and a dangling golden ball on the end with curls of smoke seeping out. Incense has been used and mentioned throughout history as an offering, as well as the fragrant odor that followed, as it was sent up before the presence of God.
Incense always smells good when it has not yet been burned, but it doesn’t release its greatest fragrance until heat is applied. I’m going to put a pause right there… Spiritually, it is when our trials and tribulations are great that our prayers have the most fervor. How we allow our trials to affect our attitude determines how our prayers will smell in God’s nostrils. We cannot allow ourselves to become bitter, angry or resentful during our time of testing. The scripture tells us to “do all things without murmurings and disputings,” because it is in our nature naturally, to complain and be disagreeable. We should always offer our prayers in proper worship to the Lord. Psalm 141:2 says, "Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”
I am in a place in my life and in my walk with the Lord, where it is so important that He receives sweet smelling, perfumed, aromatic prayers from my lips. I don’t want to be found sending up smelly prayers, or a horrible stench due to the way I handle the trials of my life, or any ungodliness in my actions because of them. I want to send up prayers that can be kept and cherished by Him. Sweet fragrances and pleasing aromas are what I want Him to smell from me; my fragrance, distinct and uniquely characteristic of who I am in Him.
My sister said that morning to imagine that when we send up prayers, along with the sweet fragrance of the incense, that we immediately get God's attention because He recognizes our scent (she got me good right there!) and says, Oh, that is my child, Cynde and then attends His ear to me. The thought that the Almighty God, in all His splendor, can recognize me out of all of His children by my unique fragrance, absolutely amazed me. I thank my sister (you know who you are) for imparting a rich and vibrant Word into my life. Let's continue to be a sweet-smelling savor to the Lord because He knows who you are by your distinct and uniquely characteristic fragrance!
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
This scripture is deeply embedded in my heart since hearing my sister preach from this passage awhile back. Sometimes you hear a Word and it literally leaps off the page and you'll get a right now revelation. It made such an impression in me that whenever I think of the words fragrance and prayers; an indescribable joy comes over me. The definition of fragrance according to the dictionary is an aroma: a distinctive (different from others, uniquely characteristic, distinguishable) scent that is pleasant or sweet smelling. Please remember that definition, because as you continue to read; distinctive and uniquely characteristic become the operative words.
John, while exiled, writes of the vision that the Lord allows him to see. Today, is the opening of the seventh seal and John saw seven angels standing before God with seven trumpets. Then he sees another angel who has a golden censer filled with incense and takes it to the golden altar. The aroma from the smoking censer, as well as the prayers of all the saints would go up before the presence of God; from the angel’s hand directly to God’s nostrils; representation that the offering had been accepted. I envisioned the Catholic priests walking with the long golden rod and a dangling golden ball on the end with curls of smoke seeping out. Incense has been used and mentioned throughout history as an offering, as well as the fragrant odor that followed, as it was sent up before the presence of God.
Incense always smells good when it has not yet been burned, but it doesn’t release its greatest fragrance until heat is applied. I’m going to put a pause right there… Spiritually, it is when our trials and tribulations are great that our prayers have the most fervor. How we allow our trials to affect our attitude determines how our prayers will smell in God’s nostrils. We cannot allow ourselves to become bitter, angry or resentful during our time of testing. The scripture tells us to “do all things without murmurings and disputings,” because it is in our nature naturally, to complain and be disagreeable. We should always offer our prayers in proper worship to the Lord. Psalm 141:2 says, "Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”
I am in a place in my life and in my walk with the Lord, where it is so important that He receives sweet smelling, perfumed, aromatic prayers from my lips. I don’t want to be found sending up smelly prayers, or a horrible stench due to the way I handle the trials of my life, or any ungodliness in my actions because of them. I want to send up prayers that can be kept and cherished by Him. Sweet fragrances and pleasing aromas are what I want Him to smell from me; my fragrance, distinct and uniquely characteristic of who I am in Him.
My sister said that morning to imagine that when we send up prayers, along with the sweet fragrance of the incense, that we immediately get God's attention because He recognizes our scent (she got me good right there!) and says, Oh, that is my child, Cynde and then attends His ear to me. The thought that the Almighty God, in all His splendor, can recognize me out of all of His children by my unique fragrance, absolutely amazed me. I thank my sister (you know who you are) for imparting a rich and vibrant Word into my life. Let's continue to be a sweet-smelling savor to the Lord because He knows who you are by your distinct and uniquely characteristic fragrance!
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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