City Life Starter

Revelation 5:8 (NIV)

“Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.”

We sometimes believe that our prayers aren’t heard, that God is too big to listen to us. We believe in our insignificance in the face of God’s greater power. Who are we, compared to God? The Bible speaks about how small we are compared to the glory of God. Isaiah speaks on this as he writes in chapter 40:

21 Do you not know?

   Have you not heard?

Has it not been told you from the beginning?

   Have you not understood since the earth was founded?

22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,

   and its people are like grasshoppers.

He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,

   and spreads them out like a tent to live in.

By Stefan Johnsson

Sometimes, we need to be reminded of God’s love for us, no matter how small and how insignificant we may think we are. God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins in our place, so that we may be made right with God. This allows us to speak directly to the Father through the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us. Our prayers to God are more important than we may think.  As Revelation 5:8 says, the prayers we give to God is like bowls of incense. They are an aroma to God, no matter how small your prayer may seem at the time. God wants your prayers. So go to God with an open heart and with humility, and ask just like a child would to his dad.

I have seen many answered prayers in my life. My first real experience with this was being on the prayer team for Campus Crusade in college. What I came to see was that those prayers we gave for others were coming true and I realized then that what I prayed mattered to God. Ever since then it has been easier to pray and trust that God will provide. At times it may be a struggle to believe for an answer, but the more I learn to rely on God, the more I come to trust Him and have faith in my prayers.

Below is an example prayer derived from Matthew 6:9-13

Our Father in Heaven,

You sit upon an everlasting throne of grace and mercy. Your name is greater than any on this Earth and means more to me than what this world can offer. I pray that your heavenly kingdom will live on this Earth through me and through my actions. May I be a light to those who are suffering, to the brokenhearted, and to those who desperately need you. May your name be glorified through me and that I can be obedient to follow the path you have set before me. Let it be this way, just as it is in heaven. Lord, provide me this day what I need to make it through. I know that I will need your grace for tomorrow, so let tomorrow worry about itself. May I live in the moment and the day that you have given me. Help lead me and guide me in all my actions. Lord, I also pray that you forgive me of my sins and help me repent of my guilt and wrongdoings. May I also extend this same forgiveness to those around me, to anyone who has committed a fault against me. And Father, keep me from the temptation and deceitfulness of the evil one, deliver us from the sin that so quickly binds us. Help us and keep us strong as we walk on this Earth Lord, so that we may give you glory and that your light will shine through us.

I pray this in the name of Jesus who has become our righteousness.

Thank you, Father.

Amen.