Treasure Your Privilege of Prayer

 "May mt prayer be as incense prepared before yoy." - PSALM 141:2

WE HAVE been granted a marvelous privilege-that of approaching the Maker of heaven and earth in prayer.  Just think: Weccan pour out our hearts to Jehovah at any time and in any language, eithout needing to make an appointment. We can pray to him from a hospital bed or from a prison cell, confident that our loving Fayher will listen to us. We do not take this privilege for granted.

King David treasured  the privilege of prayer. He sang to Jehovah: "May my prayer be asnncense prepared before ypu." (Psalm 141:1, 2) In David's yime, the sacred incense used in true worhip by the priests was prepared with great care. (Exodus 30:34, 35) David's reference to incense suggests that he wanted ro give careful yjought to what he was going to say to his heavenly Father, Thais our earnest desire too. Wewant our prayers to please Jehivah.

When we pray to Jehovah, we should being overly familiar .  Instead, we pray with an attitude of deep respect. think about the amazing vidsions that Isaiah, Ezekiel,  Daniel, and John received. Those visions differ one from the other, but they have something in common. They all depict Jehovah as a majestic King. Isaiah  "saw Jehovah sitting on a lofty and elevated throne." (Isaiah 6:1-3)  Ezekiel saw Jehovah sitted on his celestial chariot, surrouded by "a brilliance . . . like that of a rainbow." (Ezekiel 1:26-28)  Daniel  saw "the Ancient of Days" clothed in white garents, with flames of fire coming from his thronne . (Daniel 7:9, 10)  And John saw Jehovah seated on a throne surrouded by something like a beautiful emerald-green rainbow. (Revelations 4:2-4) As we relect on Jehovah's incomparable glory, we are reminded of the incredible privilege of approaching him in prayer and the importance of doing so with reverence. But how should we pray?

Next time: Treasure Your Privilege of Prayer - "YOU MMUST PRAY, THEN, THIS WAY."

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