Golden Bowls of Prayers

The other day I was driving on one of Woodbridge's many roads and passed a large truck carrying Industrial Tractor tires. These tires are the size of small storage sheds and must weigh close to 1000 pounds. To make a long story short they reminded me of my childhood. Not the size or weight but the tire itself, let me explain.
Growing up my grandfather owned a fruit farm called Rose Valley. With over 200 apple trees it was at one time one of the areas largest orchards. Until I was a young teen most of my fall was spent there, picking, sorting and selling all manor of apples. The tires reminded me of the piles upon piles of tires we had at the farm. These tires were used to save our trees from dying if we had an early frost. You see, because the apples were harvested in September sometimes into early October the danger of losing whole crops to an early frost were very real. My Dad and several of the other workers would head up to the farm at the first warning of frost to haul out and pile the tires strategically between the trees. They would then light a fire in the middle. If you have ever lit a tire on fire you know that what happens is not flame but a thick blanket of smoke. The smoke would rise above the trees creating a blanket over the area, protecting the trees and keeping the ground warm enough that the freeze could not get through, thus saving the trees from frost and the crop from being lost.
Sometimes a freeze warning would come too late and the higher elevations at the farm would be lost but usually the response was on time and smoke would protect not only the trees but those who relied on the harvest for cooking and their very livelihoods. As I was reminded about the smoke from the tires God reminded me of my prayers. In Revelation 5:8b John tells us that he saw "each one of them holding a harp and golden bowls of incense, which were the prayers of Gods holy people.
Golden bowls of prayers, prayers of Gods holy people. You and I as we pray and lift our prayers to heaven are told that they are being stored in golden bowls. More importantly we are told that He hears every one of those prayers.
David in Psalm 141:2 asked that his prayers be like incense placed before God. His prayer came at a time when he hid from Saul in a cave, his life in danger. I imagine his prayer was for that covering of smoke, of incense or safety to keep him alive for yet another day.
In Psalm 34 David praises God for hearing His people cry out to Him and verse 15tells us that God hears our prayers. There are numerous references that assure us that God hears our prayers but in this instance I believe God was reminding me through those tires that not only does he hear my prayers but he stores them up in golden bowls. That is how important they are to Him. He places so much importance on my communication with Him that he is storing up that communication. Like the smoke covering the apple trees they serve as a covering to protect me. We are reminded that talking to God offers us protection, it covers us. When we communicate with the one who longs to hear our prayers we are placing a trust in Him to hear, the bowls are proof He does!
Ephesians 6:18a says "pray in the spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for everything you need". I Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to "pray continually" and James 5:16b says "when a believing person prays, great things happen."
Prayer, golden bowls of incense stored up in heaven. My prayers and yours are golden to our heavenly Father. He hears our prayers. Luke 11:2-4 teaches us by Christ example how to pray. Jesus prayed constantly even as he walked on busy streets and dined with sinners. If our prayers are golden to God what must His sons prayers have been worth? And yet, Jesus teaches us how to pray and presented parables as examples of why it is so important to seek God and ask (Luke 11:5-13). Oswald Chambers in "My Utmost for His Highest" says "Be yourself before God and present him with your problem-the very things that have brought you to your wits end." God requires nothing of us to talk to him, not even our Sunday best since he knows us on our Monday worst.
So, like the smoke coming from the tires to cover and protect the trees from an early frost God is saying, ask me, talk to me, your prayers are being stored in golden bowls, a great smoke rising to heaven, He hears us and He is as close as a prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 says "do not worry about anything but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
Golden bowls of incense, prayers from Gods holy people, so important to God that he is keeping each one. Be specific and share some Holy smoke with your Father today.
Sending smoke signals for each of you.
Love
Jane