The Incense of Spirit-filled Prayer – Dr. Paul Dhinakaran
My precious friend, today the Lord says to you, “I will accept you as a fragrant incense” (Ezekiel 20:41). What a beautiful promise!
When do you become a fragrant incense? If you read Psalm 141:2, David says “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you. Sometimes our prayers are a nuisance to God instead of being incense to Him. This happens when we pray in the flesh. In other words, when we pray after the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life, asking God question after question – “Lord, why did you do this? Why didn’t you do this? Or Lord, that person has this. I also want it! Or Lord, I want to be a great man” Such prayers are a nuisance to God and not incense to Him. That’s why David prayerfully desires that his prayers are like an incense to God. What is this prayer of incense? It’s the prayer of the saints. When you and I pray according to the will of God for His will to be done, it becomes a prayer of incense to God (Revelation 5:8 & Revelation 8:3-5).
When do we pray according to the will of God? When we let the Holy Spirit pray through us (Romans 8:26). The Scripture says that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses and He prays for us and through us with groanings that cannot be uttered. And He leads us into the will of God through the new tongues that He prays through us. Such prayers that are prayed through the Holy Spirit, through our own tongue from our spirit, is an incense to God. Then the Lord says that He will accept you as fragrant incense. My friend, cry out for the Holy Spirit to fill you today and let Him pray through you because you do not know what to pray. You will be a fragrant incense to the Lord!
PRAYER:
Loving Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your loving promise. You are the Anointed One and You baptise us with Your spirit. Lord, as per Your promise, anoint me with Your Holy Spirit. Let my cup overflow. Lord Holy Spirit, please take control of my spirit and my tongue and pray through me the will of the Father. Let my prayers be an incense to You and bring delight to Your heart. Thank You, Lord, for accepting me as a fragrant incense. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.