Prayer Rhythms In Person Group Prayer

 A Message From Our Prayer Chaplain, Cathy 

Pray Every Day 

God wants to hear from you regularly. He wants a relationship. Take time to talk to God daily and throughout the day, not just when you face a crisis and not only with a list of wants and needs.

“Pray continually.” NIV and ESV

I Thessalonians 5:17

Other versions read “Pray without ceasing.” NKJV

Exodus 30:7-8 - The Altar of Incense

In verse 7, Aaron the priest was commanded to burn incense on the Altar of incense. It was to be sweet incense every morning. "...when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it."

"Incense" - (an insight from the original Hebrew word)  Qatar <H6999>, (Strong's Concordance.)  The idea of fumigation in a close place and perhaps thus driving out the occupants.

To smoke, to turn into fragrance by fire, especially as an act of worship. 

The word "fumigation" is interesting. It may speak to us about driving out "pests" in our lives or in the lives of others through the lifting up of our prayers, an incense to the Lord. 

Verse 8 - "And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it,

a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations."

"Perpetual" - (an insight from the original Hebrew word) Tamid <H8548>, (Strong's Concordance.)  To stretch, constant, evermore. 

Day and night, night and day let incense arise.

Day and night, night and day, let incense arise.

Such a holy thing. God humbles Himself and even makes Himself vulnerable that He wants relationship with us, with you, with me.

David wrote in Psalm 141:2 “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”

We all see a different part of the world God created. We see people with their needs, hurts, joys. We hear stories of people’s lives that need to be prayed over. We have things in our lives that need prayed over.  Consider ,,,

· *The astronauts on their Artemis II mission around the far side of the moon.

·* A stray bullet that killed a 7 month old baby sister, which affected her parents, her big brother, her grandmother.

Between you and God, develop the intimacy that comes through praying continually.

There will be questions, laughter, sorrow, repentance, and trust that grows. Look back over days, months, years ... 30, 40, 50 years of talking with God, praying, inquiring of Him, loving Him.

Psalm 95:7 “For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.” New King James Version

“For we are those He cares for, and He is the God we worship.” The Passion Translation

Adapted From: Practical Prayer Suggestions (Billy Graham)