You and I live in a loud world.  To get someone’s attention is no easy task.  He must be willing to set everything aside to listen:  turn down the radio, turn away from the monitor, turn that corner of the page and set down the book.  When someone is willing to silence everything else so he can hear us clearly, it is a privilege.  A rare privilege indeed.

You can talk to God because God listens.  Your voice matters in heaven.  He takes you very seriously.  When you enter His presence, the attendants turn to you to hear your voice.  No need to fear that you will be ignored.  Even if you stammer of stumble, even if what you have to say impresses no one, it impresses God – and He listens.  He listens to the painful plea of the elderly in the rest home.  He listens to the gruff confession of the death-row inmate.  When the alcoholic begs for mercy, when the spouse seeks guidance, when the businessman steps off the street into the chapel, God listens.

Intently.  Carefully.  The prayers are honored as precious jewels.  Purified and empowered, the words rise in a delightful fragrance to our Lord.  “The smoke from the incense went up from the angel’s hand to God.”  Incredible.  Your words do not stop until they reach the very throne of God.

…your prayers move God to change the world.  You may not understand the mystery of prayer.  You don’t need to.  But this much is clear:  Actions in heaven begin when someone prays on earth.  What an amazing thought!

– Max Lucado

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 (NIV)

For the eyes of the Lord are [looking favorably] upon the righteous (the upright), And His ears are attentive to their prayer (eager to answer), But the face of the Lord is against those who practice evil.

– 1 Peter 3:12 (AMP)

Photo by Wade Callison