Treasured Prayer

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

The reading for today titled Treasured Prayer was written by James Banks. It returns to uncover the seeds, even under heavy snow. A Clark's Nutcracker may remember as many as 10,000 locations where it has hidden seeds, an astounding feat, especially when you consider the difficulty we humans can have remembering the location of our car keys or glasses. But even this incredible act of memory pales in comparison with God's ability to remember our prayers. He's able to keep track of every sincere prayer and remember and respond to them even years later.

In the book of Revelation, the apostle John describes four living creatures and 24 elders worshiping the Lord in heaven. Each one was holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people. Just as incense was precious in the ancient world, our prayers are so precious to God that he keeps them before him continually, treasured in golden bowls. Our prayers matter to God because we matter to him.

And through his undeserved kindness to us and Jesus, he offers us uninhibited access. So pray boldly and know that not a word will be forgotten or misplaced because of the amazing love of God. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Revelation chapter five, verses six through 10. Then I saw a lamb looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people. And they sang a new song saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were slain and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and they will reign on the earth. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, what a comfort it is to know that you not only hear our prayers today, but remember them and respond to them ever faithfully. Please give us the perseverance to pray and the faith to look for what you alone can do. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name that we pray. Amen.