Sweet Incense of Worship

wild roses by the bay by Dee Kamp

Sweet Incense of Worship

The summer heat was intense all day long, but then as I was sitting by the open window with evening prayers upon my heart. Then a little breeze blew across the roses in the garden and like a precious ancient incense it swept away the staleness of the day.

“May My prayer be set before you like incense;

may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.”

Psalm 141:2 NIV

 

The palmist paints a beautiful word picture in this Psalm. Incense was precious to the ancient world and covered the unpleasant odors of everyday life with a beautiful fragrance.

God called for special incense to be a pleasant aroma that would rise up in holy worship to Him.  Incense also speaks of a person breathing out their heartfelt prayers in sweet surrender to the Lord.

Hands lifted up in holy praise to the Lord are hands not busy, toiling or creating something, but raised up in self-less, heartfelt love.

We are able to worship the Lord all the time, no matter our trials, troubles or circumstances. We don’t need to buy, mix or create an incense sweet unto the Lord, for our wholehearted worship is a beautiful and pleasing aroma to Him.

 

“I breathed a heartfelt evening prayer

To God on high, and lingered there,

To see if God did truly care

In heaven above.

Down from the heights, my answer came

A quiet peace passed through my frame,

I felt His presence, praise His Name,

For God is love.”

 R.E. Neighbour

 

“Sweet Incense of Worship” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© July 20, 2015