Morning by Morning, December 10 - Encountering God at the Altar of Incense
Good morning, Lord Jesus. In my morning communion of prayer, I seek Your face and listen for Your voice -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
"Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to (Zechariah) an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord...." (Luke 1:10-15).
When Zechariah had his supernatural encounter with the angel of the Lord he was praying and he was surrounded by people who were praying. The angel spoke to him from beside the altar of incense, which speaks of the place of surrender and prayer, offering our lives in surrender and faith to be lifted up with our prayers and praise as a fragrant offering to You.
In the place of prayer and praise, we encounter You. In the place of prayer and praise, we hear Your word, we receive encouragement and direction, and we find comfort and joy to know that You hear our prayers and see our hearts and have a plan for our lives.
And there's something powerful about being surrounded by people of prayer -- praying with us, praying for us. Prayer and praise prepare and atmosphere for supernatural encounters. And though we may be terrified in the fear of the Lord when we actually encounter You through the means You choose to convey Your word and Your will, You are quick to calm our fears and steady our hearts to know we have nothing to fear if we'll only trust and believe in You.
I lift up my prayers and praise like incense before You today. I thank for all those who pray with me and for me with expectant faith, offering our lives as living sacrifices before You. May our prayers be a pleasing aroma and fragrant offering to You from the holy place of our hearts, where we encounter Your Presence. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you encounter God at the altar of incense, lifting up your prayers and praise to the Lord as a pleasing aroma and fragrant offering, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Thank you for joining with me on this daily journey of prayer. I write these from my morning prayer time most every day and send them out right away. If you would like to have a collection of these as a 365 Day Prayer Journal for you or a friend, please order a copy today. God bless you!
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257
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