'Sweet incense

Sweet incense

In John's vision of Heaven, the redeemed are represented as having in their hands "golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of saints."

The thought seems to be that earth's supplications rise up to Heaven as sweet incense — that while humble believers in this world are engaged in offering up prayers and supplications — holy fragrances are wafted up before God.

There is an exquisite beauty in this thought, that true prayer is sweet fragrance to God.

The pleadings and supplications of His people on the earth, rise from lowly homes, from sick-rooms, from darkened chambers of grief where loved ones kneel beside their dead, from humble sanctuaries — and are wafted up before God, as the breath of flowers is wafted to us in summer days from sweet fields and fragrant gardens.

And God "smells the pleasing aroma." Prayer is perfume to Him!

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