“The Prayers of the Saints”
The idea for “The Prayers of the Saints”—a golden bowl full of incense—came to me during my prayer journey a few months ago. Desperate for an answer from God and hearing nothing, I was overwhelmed by self-doubt and fear and began to question if I could truly hear His voice. In that struggle, the image of “golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” (Revelation 5:8 NASB1995) reassured me that I was not forgotten and that God hears His people's prayers. Clinging to hope, I believed my prayers were “counted as incense before Him” (Psalm 141:2) even in doubt. Eventually, though later than I had hoped, the Lord answered, strengthening my faith and trust as I saw He will never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). As John states in 1 John 5:14: “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” We can confidently approach God in prayer, knowing He listens and will answer. While this only touches on the vast topic of prayer, this is what I have learned in my situation.
As we approach a holy and perfect God, none are worthy, and no prayer is perfect. How then are our prayers considered incense before Him? Spurgeon clarifies:
No, my brethren, the prayers of the saints of themselves considered would rather be an offence unto divine holiness than a sweet savor unto God. Our consolation lies in this, that our beloved intercessor who stands before God for us, even Christ Jesus, possesses such an abundance of precious merit that he puts fragrance into our supplications and imparts a delicious odor to our prayers. He makes our intercessions to be through his merit what they could not have been without it, acceptable before the Majesty of heaven (Spurgeon, 1872).
With Christ as our mediator, He takes our imperfect prayers and makes them worthy to present before God, interceding for us (Hebrews 7:25, Romans 8:34, 1 John 2:1). Though I approached God afraid and uncertain, Christ mediated, God heard, and He answered.
Romans 8:26-27 highlights the Holy Spirit’s role in our prayers: “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Although our words may be imperfect, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and gives us the words we need when it is time (Luke 12:12). As our helper, the Spirit provides strength, guidance, and transformation for life’s journey. We can take comfort in knowing that God’s presence is with us, guiding and empowering us wherever we go.
This does not mean, however, that we may come before the Father any way we wish. Scripture gives us instructions. First, we must come with faith that He is able to do what we ask in Jesus' name, according to His will (Mark 11:24, Matthew 21:22, James 1:6, Hebrews 11:6, Luke 1:37). Second, we come in reverence and humility, knowing that we are going before the God of the universe, who is worthy of our praise (Psalm 2:11, Psalm 138:6, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Hebrews 5:7, Hebrews 12:28-29, James 4:10). We must then come with thankful hearts, remembering blessings that God has already given out of His abundant love and kindness (Psalm 95:2, Psalm 103:1-4, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Colossians 2:6-7, Colossians 3:17, Colossians 4:2, Philippians 4:4-7, Ephesians 5:18-20). We can come to God with thanksgiving, knowing that through Christ's life, death, and resurrection, He has given us the greatest gift: eternity with Him. Though we come to God imperfectly, often with doubt, pride, and enmity, He offers grace. With Christ as our mediator, the Father hears our prayers and answers us despite our imperfect approach.
If you have not accepted Him as Savior, you are never too far gone to come to Him. He loves you despite all of your shortcomings and imperfections and desires a relationship with you. All you must do is come to Him in prayer. This involves repenting and turning away from your sin, confessing that “Jesus is Lord” and believing in your heart that God raised Him from the dead to save you (Romans 10:9). Through salvation in Christ, you are declared righteous before God and are adopted into His family. All you must do is accept this free gift He has given you, and follow Him. You were not meant to do life alone; you are meant to have fellowship with Him.
References
Spurgeon, C. H. (1872, May 19). Golden Vials Full of Odours. The Spurgeon Center. https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/golden-vials-full-of-odours/#flipbook/
