Prayerlessness- A Beautiful Mess Part 2 by Shalene

Holy Holy Holy hymn from PraiseWebsite.com

Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2 NKJV

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Romans 8:34 NKJV

There was a time after I became a believer in which I did not pray as I should. In the infancy of my salvation, I thought it was enough that I had accepted Christ into my life, and was attempting to live as Christ did- by showing love to everyone. I have since learned that living right is not enough. Certainly, it is not enough for the more mature believer that I am now.

Once again, I am studying the tabernacle of the children of Israel, and I am studying about the altar of incense. The priests of the tabernacle were the only ones allowed to burn the incense upon the altar. They were to kindle the fire from coals from the altar of sacrifice, every morning and every evening, so that the fires never went out. They were also to replenish the pure incense that was upon the altar at this time. What was the purpose of the incense on this altar???

The purpose of the incense was to represent prayers. That's right! The pure incense, made of several spices and prepared as a perfume was to be the prayers and praises offered to the Lord continuously. How does that relate to us today? Well, because Jesus died for us to bring us eternal salvation and He lives to intercede for us, with God the Father. We are God's royal priesthood now. Read the following Scriptures:

Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne Revelation 8:3 NKJV (emphasis mine)

This first Scripture shows us that Jesus does indeed stand before the throne of God, offering our prayers to God upon the golden altar that is before the throne. The incense is our prayers. We are the saints! How is it then that we can remain "saintly"?

The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD has opened My ear; and I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away. Isaiah 50:4-5 NKJV(emphasis mine)

"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Mark 14:38 NKJV (emphasis mine)

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV (emphasis mine)

WHERE do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:1-3 NKJV (emphasis mine)

It seems very clear to me that being prayerless, is a sin. It is being rebellious towards the Lord. Being prayerful is not just allowing God to hear our wants and needs, it is also hearing what the Lord has to say to us. If we are not praying continuously we are, as Beth Moore states:

forfeiting some of God's precious gifts to us, it makes us much weaker when tempted, it causes us anxiety, and it closes our ears to God.

I hope you will pray and meditate on this today. Pray to the Lord to make you more prayerful, so that you CAN become more than just a beautiful mess. God has designed you to be so much more than that. He has a Plan for you. Won't you hear, from Him, what it is?

--Lord, I pray today that that You continue to make me more prayerful. That I might open my ears, and hear with my heart, soul and Spirit, what You have planned for me. I pray that the readers of this message also pray this of You. I pray these things in Jesus Holy Name. Amen.

This message has been adapted from Beth Moore's study "A Woman's Heart, God's Dwelling Place Copyright 2007 LifeWay Press. Only the one quote listed is directly copied from her study.