My daughters and I have been reading the Bible for a full year now, and this December we’re in Revelation. Every day has brought something new and amazing. Reading the Bible daily is truly a life-changing journey. I’ve had my highs and lows and missed some days along the way, but I’ve always caught up, and each time it has refreshed and strengthened me.
This week I came across Revelations chapter 5 verse 8:
Revelation 5:8 (NIV)
And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four 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.
❤️🙏
Apokalupo 5.8 (Motu)
Buka e abia; bena mauri ḡaudia haniosi bona heitatao taudia ruahui-haniosi na Mamoe Natuna vairanai e goru diho. Idia ta ta mai edia gitara bona mai edia gold urodia: unu uro be e gabumu bena bonadia e daemu muramuradia ai e honuhonu dae, helaḡa taudia edia ḡuriḡuri bunu.
This verse reminds us why we need Christ in our prayers and in our lives. Without Him, we are lost; our sin emits a stench that keeps us far from God. But with Christ, our prayers become a sweet aroma — carried into God’s presence with favour.
Prayers rise like incense to heaven — and every single one is kept. Prayers of adoration, worship, thanksgiving, intercession, our cries for help and our quiet sorrows… nothing is overlooked or forgotten. Heaven gathers every prayer prayed in Jesus’ name.
Sometimes we pray with closed or self-focused hearts. We pray for our own purposes, forgetting God, forgetting Christ, forgetting others. We pray out of pride instead of humility. And those prayers do not rise as incense — they do not reach the heart of God.
But when we pray through Jesus — with open hearts, in humility and faith — our prayers rise, our worship is received, and heaven keeps every word, as Revelation 5 verse 8 reminds us 🙏✨
How amazing is it to know that God keeps our prayers in golden bowls? It gives me such deep assurance that He truly hears us. And now I understand why our late mum always encouraged us to pray, no matter the circumstances 🙌
To God be the glory always 🙏❤️
Idau Hahine 