The Perfect Landing

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)

I wonder, when you pray – and the research tells us that most people do, in fact, pray – do you ever think about where your prayers end up? How God perceives them? What impact they have?

I suspect that a lot of people don’t think about those things. Instead, they kind of cast their prayers out there, hoping for the best. Have you thought about it? Have you ever wondered what your prayer looks like in the heavenly realms?

In the amazing book of Revelation, God paints a surprising picture of our prayer:

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)

Our prayers are like bowls full of incense before Jesus – what a glorious picture of our prayers rising up to Him. But what of their impact here on earth? I was taken by something my good friend and life-long missionary to Africa, Lowell Wertz, wrote recently:

“Prayer communication with the Father is welcomed by Him and a comforting reassurance to us. We pray because we need and love God. And He wants to hear from us. Our prayers are heard in heaven. An intense prayer of mine happened as a brand-new pilot trying to land on a narrow African dirt strip in the middle of a huge storm. With no forward visibility, I prayed at the top of my lungs screaming over the sounds of the engine and rain. The Holy Spirit filled the cockpit and the landing was perfect.”

Your prayer is welcomed in heaven and has a powerful impact here on earth.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.