Often our concerns and issues are our focus but there is always a bigger heavenly perspective to prayer. Life lived with the understanding of eternity can take us to another level. Scripture tells us that God hears the prayers and cries of His people, they are answered and never wasted. The mighty power, love and majesty of God himself work in ways we have yet to realise.
Read and Imagine
Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
– Revelation 8:3-5
The context is the throne room of heaven where the prayers of all the saints (past, present and future) are rising in the censer to God whose power and majesty will ultimately act in just resolution on the earth. We don’t always see prayers answered now and we see unrighteousness and ungodliness abound. Prayers containing hearts’ desires may not happen as we hope. Some prayers will be answered and understood in the final instance and we will begin to understand the heart of God in them more clearly.
Prayers answered in the here and now are celebrated and rejoiced over! It’s wonderful to see God at work and we can praise and thank Him. But is that it? Answered prayer is full of the purposes of God. How and where does the fullness of that prayer land eternally e.g. if a person is healed do they go on to know Jesus, surrendering their lives to Him? How are they and those around them affected in the light of that touch of God thereafter? Will God say ‘good and faithful servant’ or do they not desire to walk with Him into all He has for their life? Answered prayer opens more doors for the purposes of God’s kingdom if we will walk through them.
But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations. – Psalm 33:11
Go Deeper
Think about a prayer that God has answered very obviously in your life. Has that opened up more of God’s Kingdom ways in you, in others, in your attitude and walk with Jesus? What of God’s purposes have become clear even for your future? An answered prayer goes on giving! Let’s recognise the Father’s heart and capacity to reveal His glory in everything. Jesus has the final word and He is holy and trustworthy.
