Another angel came and stood upon the altar, having a golden censer. And much incense was given to him in order that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne. And the smoke of the altar went up, along with the prayers of the saints, out of the hand of the angel before God. Rev. 8:3, 4.
A ship wrecked during a storm, and only two men survived. They were able to swim to a small desertlike island. The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. They decided to make a contest out of it. To find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.
The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the island, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man's parcel of land remained barren. After a week, the first man was lonely and prayed for a wife. The next day another ship sank just offshore, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the island. But on the other side of the island things remained the same.
The first man prayed for a house, clothes, and more food. Like magic, he received all of them. However, the second man still had nothing. Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could leave the island. In the morning he found a ship docked at his side of the island.
The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers had received any answer. As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?"
"My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them," the first man answered. "His prayers were all unanswered, so he does not deserve anything."
"You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings."
"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "what did he pray for that I should own him anything?"
"He prayed that all your prayers would be answered."
Though we hate to admit it, selfishness often taints our prayers. The prayers of true saints demonstrate the self-sacrificing concern for others that Jesus showed on the cross.
Lord, purify my prayers today with the incense of Your righteousness.
A ship wrecked during a storm, and only two men survived. They were able to swim to a small desertlike island. The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. They decided to make a contest out of it. To find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.
The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the island, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man's parcel of land remained barren. After a week, the first man was lonely and prayed for a wife. The next day another ship sank just offshore, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the island. But on the other side of the island things remained the same.
The first man prayed for a house, clothes, and more food. Like magic, he received all of them. However, the second man still had nothing. Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could leave the island. In the morning he found a ship docked at his side of the island.
The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers had received any answer. As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?"
"My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them," the first man answered. "His prayers were all unanswered, so he does not deserve anything."
"You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings."
"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "what did he pray for that I should own him anything?"
"He prayed that all your prayers would be answered."
Though we hate to admit it, selfishness often taints our prayers. The prayers of true saints demonstrate the self-sacrificing concern for others that Jesus showed on the cross.
Lord, purify my prayers today with the incense of Your righteousness.
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