Golden Bowls of Prayer

Sweet Aroma

Prayer is not just us crying out to God. It is not just a list of ‘I want’s’ in a ‘Gimme List’. It is not just us advising God on what He should do for us. No, no, no, prayer is so much more than all these things.

How can I even begin to describe prayer? It is spirit talk – my spirit talking to God’s spirit. It is a sacrifice of praise and prayer – it is me giving my all to the Lord – making room in my day just for Him. Revelation 5:8 describes prayer thus, “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” Prayer is incense that rises as a sweet aroma before the throne of God to be collected in golden bowls. Prayer is a time of great intimacy with the Lord.

As the Bible also tells us that God knows what we want and what we need, so God also asks us to ‘make known’ our prayers and petitions. So, let me describe for you my ‘ideal’ setting for prayer – both personal and with others. Let me also say that my ideal may not be ideal to others.

Before starting out, prepare a list of all the subjects you think you should cover. This list gives you a target and a structure. It also helps prevent you wandering off on your own side tracks. This list could contain anything from personal requests to revival; individuals to nations; finances to your local football team. It is your ‘menu’ if you like.

Firstly, welcome people and welcome Holy Spirit, then start with a period of soaking music to both relax you and get you into the mood for prayer. This can last any time from 5 minutes to an hour or more. Let Holy Spirit lead and guide you in this.

Next, pray in tongues again for anything up to an hour or more – this may be at the same time as the soaking music, or it may follow the soaking.

Then, praise and worship including songs if preferred. CD’s or DVD’s are probably best unless good worship leaders are with you. Don’t be afraid to sing to each other (it’s quite Biblical) or to shout. The main ingredient here is freedom to praise as each wants to.

Followed by Thanks for answered prayer – be specific and keep a diary of when things were prayed for and what & when the answer was received. It is important to do this as it is your own testimony and it builds everyones faith for what is to follow.

Read aloud any useful scriptures relevant to your petitions. Healing or prophetic scriptures, relevant stories or events from Jesus’ ministry.

Lastly make your petitions known to God – stick to the agreed list – recording them in your prayer diary. A leader could call things out from the list just to keep everyone on track.

In all of this, there must be room for the Spirit to move to allow Words from the Lord to be brought – prophecy or knowledge; visions or dreams – this is important as it also allows flexibility in the schedule. All should be discerning in receiving or discarding what is brought. There is no time limit here – it lasts as long as the Spirit is flowing through you.

Finish with praise and worship – maybe with flags and dancing – express yourself freely in praise and worship. Wave flags and dance before the Lord. Celebrate Him.

A prayer meeting or prayer sessions like this could last two hours or six hours. Just be prepared to give the Lord some time and let Him work through you and in you. Let Him begin the refiners work in you as you meet Him intimately in prayer.

That is the secret of this type of prayer – it is a time of wonderful intimacy with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. A time to treasure in His company. A time also to be who you are with God.