“May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.” Psalm 141:2 (NASB1995)
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Yesterday morning, I needed a slight attitude adjustment. Thinking some fresh air, sunshine and exercise would help me out, I went on a brisk walk.
As I made my way down the street, so did a neighborhood garbage truck. It was rather uncanny; my pace and the truck’s duties seemed to line up perfectly. The large truck would stop to collect garbage while I moved ahead, but then it would invariably catch up with me, and we’d be side by side again. I turned right, and to my disgruntlement, so did the garbage truck. I couldn’t seem to escape its route or its awful smell.
While breathing in the not-so-fresh air, my mind made a connection: What if our thoughts and emotions had smells attached to them? What if the age-old phrase “your attitude stinks” was actually true in the heavenly realm? What odor would worry put off? Or bitterness? Or unforgiveness?
Second Timothy 2:16-17 refers to empty chatter spreading like gangrene — now that’s stinky for sure!
How do we rid ourselves of the “stink”? Soon after my walk, the Lord directed me to these verses: “O LORD, I call upon You; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to You! May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering” (Psalm 141:1-2, NASB1995).
Can it be that our prayers “smell” good to God?
I looked further into incense offerings and found Exodus 30:7-8: “And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on [the altar]. Every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it, and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations” (ESV).
My Bible’s commentary explains that incense represented the prayers and praises of God’s people. Also, incense helped extinguish the smell of dead animals that had been sacrificed in the temple.
Maybe when we lay down our worry, pride, bitterness or you-name-it stinky sin — lifting up prayers instead — then these new words become the fragrance that rises to heaven.
Today, let’s rid ourselves of garbage truck odors and replace them with a lovely aroma of prayer. For me, I will lay down …
- Worrying about my children. Instead, I'll pray for each one of them by name.
- Resentment toward my co-worker. Instead, I'll ask God to bless him.
- Negativity. Instead, I'll lift up praises to the One who gives me breath.
It’s humbling to think that our words can be “counted as incense” (Psalm 141:2) before the Lord. Let’s trust that He not only enjoys the sound of our voices but delights in the sweet fragrance of our uplifted prayers.
Dear Lord, remind me to give all my anxious thoughts and errant emotions to You through prayer. As I choose to pour out my heart before You in faith, help me also to remember that You delight in hearing my voice. Thank You for listening, my Father and my Friend. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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FOR DEEPER STUDY
Psalm 142:1-2, “With my voice I cry out to the LORD; with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD. I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him” (ESV).
Revelation 5:8, “And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” (ESV).
Do you need an attitude adjustment or an emotional checkup in some area of your life today? What words can you pour out to the Lord concerning these things, knowing that your prayer is considered a sweet-smelling aroma before Him? We’d love for you to share with us in the comments!
© 2024 by Chris Baxter. All rights reserved.
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