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.

Inclined to Listen

The Apostle Peter gave encouraging counsel to the faithful members of the primitive church and a stern warning to those who refused to repent:

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
--1 Peter 3:12

My obedience and faithfulness obviously affect my relationship with God. Not that He loves me less when I am disobedient, but why should He speak to me when I am not inclined to listen? 

His face is against evildoers because their faces are against Him. They turn their backs and so He turns His back. The moment, however, that I turn toward the Lord, He instantly turns back toward me. The love of God is an amazing gift!

Nurture Mortal Relationships to Nurture the Relationship with God

The apostle Peter wrote an open letter to the converts of Christ outside of the nation of Israel, many of whom had been gentiles. He offered counsel and teaching to these newly baptized members of Christ's church. Among his admonitions is this gem about the marriage relationship and its effect on prayer:

Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
--1 Peter 3:7

The quality and efficacy of my prayers are affected by my mortal relationships, and especially the relationship with my wife. If I am at odds with others, angry, resentful, or begrudging, the Holy Spirit cannot dwell with me, and without the aid of the Spirit, my prayers fall flat. My best prayers are inspired, and when they lack inspiration, they become vain repetition. I must therefore carefully nurture my relationships with those around me, and especially my family, if I can have any hope of nurturing a relationship with God.

Effectual Fervent Prayer

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
--James 5:16

Another interpretation of this saying is, "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." In other words, prayer works. God hears all prayers, but the prayers of a righteous person who keeps the commandments and is in tune with the Holy Spirit get more attention because they are already in harmony with the Lord's will. They are easy for God to answer.

I do not claim to be a righteous person, or that my prayers are always fervent or effective, but I try to pray regularly for others, and I like to think that others are praying for me. I need the prayers of others to bolster my own pathetic prayers. Most importantly, I rely on the prayers of Jesus on my behalf:

"I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them." (John 17:9-10)

"Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him— Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life." (D&C 45:3-5)

The only truly righteous person to have lived on the earth is Jesus, and surely His prayers are effectually fervent. Though I fail in many ways every day, I have hope because Jesus is praying for me.