Today I want to take a brief look at the concept of prayer as an offering. It seems obvious that when we give thanks or praise to God in our prayers, they are an offering. However I like the concept that all our prayers, our requests, our intersession, our confession, are all an offering to God. Our prayers are presented or offered to God in heaven for His consideration. We are not simply asking God to handle our problems and needs, but the act of doing so is in itself an offering; we are giving them to God.
If our bodies and our lives are to be living sacrifices, (Rom 12:1) then our prayers are a part of that. More specifically, when we take our needs to God, we are offering Him control over our life. We are acknowledging our need for Him. If an offering is something we give to someone, we have to treat our prayers this way and let go of our requests and give control to Him. We relinquish ownership and control over what we pray about to Him. How often have I offered something to Him in prayer only to snatch it back into my control as soon as I say “Amen”? Did I really treat my prayer as an offering?
Honest confession here, I found this next part to be really cool. Revelation helped me see my prayers as offerings of special significance to God. First, Revelation 5:8 -
And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Later in chapter 8:3-4 we see this again –
(3) Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. (4) The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand.
This reminded me of my study of the Tabernacle in Exodus 30:1-9 and the Golden Altar where incense was offered. Several things occurred to me in looking at these passages. Our prayers are significant. Incense is used to represent them, as seen in Rev 5:8. Incense has an aroma and is pleasing to the senses. God find our prayer offerings to have an aroma that is pleasing to him.
Prayers are offered at the Golden Altar. It is before the throne in heaven and in the Holy Place in the earthly Tabernacle and later Temple. This is a place set aside as holy and purified before God. Only incense could be offered at the Golden Altar. Our prayers are worthy of a special, separate, and holy place of offering. Something that is to be offered inside the Holy Place at a separate, specific purpose altar made of pure gold, must have great value and importance.
The Golden Altar is right in front of the throne. It is in the center of the room, close to the veil separating the Holy of Holies. Our prayers always are at the center of God’s attention. It is also in a place of close fellowship and communion with God. When we pray we are setting ourselves apart for close interaction with God. Our prayers are essential to our close relationship with God.
The incense offering was made twice daily, demonstrating the ongoing and continual nature of the offering. Our prayers are not just to be offered once in a while, on special occasions, but daily, regularly, and with consistency.
Aaron, the high priest, was charged with making the offering. This is such a beautiful picture of our new high priest, Jesus (Heb 4:14). Jesus now is the one who presents our prayers to the Father, giving His authorization to our petitions. When we pray in Jesus’ name we place our faith in His ability to do so with perfect compliance to God’s will.
Our prayers are part of the end times. They are mentioned at specific points in events that unfold in Revelation. Our prayers are included in the advancing of God’s timeline for the return of His Son. God values our prayers enough to include them in this progression. We have value, purpose and significance in kingdom plans. I’m overwhelmed that God has chosen to include us in such an important way.
So, our prayers are essential to communicating with God. All three parts of the Trinity are involved. They are offerings to God, presented by Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, connecting us with Him and making us part of His Kingdom plan.
I’m closing with a quick word play that came to mind. If you play something you are a “player”. If you sing, you are a “singer”. If you run you are a “runner”, and so on. So, if I pray, I am a “pray-er”, but “prayer” is already a word. I could almost feel God chuckling at my silliness as he prompted me to finish my thoughts. So does this mean I am a “prayer”? Yes, I am a prayer; my life should be one big continual prayer. It certainly helps explain the concepts in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to pray without ceasing and in Philippians to pray about everything. How would my life change if I considered it all a prayer, a continual conversation with God? What if in everything I am doing, thinking, or saying, I consider God not only in deciding on the action, but present to witness and participate? How much more will I allow God’s power to be set free in my life? I don’t want you to misunderstand and think I mean that having a specific set aside time with God is not important if we are always praying. I believe the exact opposite. Those intentional times are necessary to develop a close relationship and grow us. However, when we finish these times, let’s not leave God behind, thinking that we are done with Him for the day. He comes with us, all day long. Then we are reminded that all we do is an offering to Him.
Until next time, choose joy!