Sweet Incense of Prayer

In the Apostle John's highly symbolic Revelation, he received a series of visions. He recorded one of the visions as follows:

And when he [an angel] had taken the book [from the Lamb of God], the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
--Revelation 5:8

A central feature of the original temple worship of the ancient Hebrews was the altar of incense on which sweet-smelling sage, wood, and oils were burned. The rising smoke represented the prayers of the people ascending to heaven (see Exodus 30:1).

My prayer should be like the smoke of incense, constantly and gently rising up unto God. When it burns within me, it lifts me and permeates the very atmosphere around me. My prayers can mingle with the incense of others until it becomes a beautiful cloud of gratitude and yearning, of hope and peace. It is the very air of God's kingdom. If I want to know what it feels like to live in the presence of God, I should surround myself with prayer.

Getting On the Right Track

The Apostle John wrote:

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
--1 John 5: 14-15

The key to getting answers to prayer is to ask according to God's will. In other words, if I learn to ask for that which He already plans to give me, the answer is a slam dunk. I can't miss. When I know of a surety that I have asked correctly, I can have complete confidence I will receive what I asked for. 

So, if I want answers to my prayers, I must learn to listen to the Holy Spirit, who reveals to me the mind and will of God, and then I have to go with it. When I stop fighting with God about what I want and submit to Him for what He wants, everything goes a lot smoother. 

God is going to get His way sooner or later anyway. I might as well sign up for the program right up front and get on the right track early.

Obedience Affects the Outcome of Prayer

In the Apostle John's first general letter to the church in his day, he bore his eyewitness testimony of the resurrected Christ. Then he counseled the saints in the proper Christian life. Among his injunctions are these words:

And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
--1John 3:22

How I live—my obedience and faithfulness—affect the outcome of my prayers. It's just that simple. If I want answers, I must live for them and qualify for them. I do not earn them, for no one is really worthy. Answers to prayer, like the Atonement itself, are gifts of grace and mercy. But like I must qualify for the grace of the Atonement, I must qualify for the gift of answers to prayer. God is good, but He is not stupid; generous, but not foolish. He gives to those who will recognize and appreciate His gifts. The proof of my desire is in the asking, but the proof of my appreciation is in the living and keeping the commandments.

Prayerfully Watch

The members of the ancient church thought Christ's Second Coming was imminent. The apostle Peter taught them how to be prepared:

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
--Peter 1:4

Prayer is part of our watching and preparation for the Second Coming. Prayer attunes us to the Holy Spirit, through whom warnings and revelations will come. The Spirit inspires us what to pray for, and at the appropriate time He will direct us to pray for what we need to be prepared to meet the Lord. Whether we meet Him coming or going, on this side of the veil or the other, we need to be prepared.