I’ve been reading a lot in the new King James version lately. I think it is one of the original translations and it actually might be THE original translation. When I first started reading the Bible I found myself in the EASY, TPT, The Message and NLT the most, but now I find myself moving to more of the original context.
“And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations.”
Exodus 30:8 NKJV
I was drawn to a couple things this morning as I read our chapter today. First of all the word incense. (I don’t particularly like the smell but it definitely caught my attention there was an entire altar for incense)
When I looked up the symbolism behind the incense, I found it actually represented prayer, sweet prayers, ascending up to heaven
Burning night and day. All the time represented regular communing with God.
Perpetual means: Never ending or changing AND occurring repeatedly; so frequent as to seem endless and uninterrupted.
What an incredible depiction, if you will, of how often we should be talking with God through prayer, reminding us how pleasing it is when we offer up prayers and commune with God.
Throughout generations: As I meditated on the scripture today, the thought of teaching the next generation, the importance of prayer and modeling it through our own prayer lives suddenly became more important. Im not just talking about instructing on prayer, but modeling it too. Prayer
isn't something we do just at meals, but a conversation we enter into whenever there are storms of life, we feel dysregulated, have any particular needs, worries or fears, and especially when we are thankful, etc.. (talking with God like we do a spouse or bestie). It makes me think of the song, Talking to Jesus
I love the idea that this was done on an altar because I’m sure the symbolism of offering a sacrifice of prayer is so meaningful in so many situations I know there are times as I pray there can be pain in prayer as I’m crying out to my father. Maybe it's out of anger, frustration or even fear...regardless it's painful therefore it's a sacrifice.
I love that one of the things we’ll be doing during our 75 hard @The Well Edition is incorporating prayer daily. It might start with one prayer for some, but I know for me prayer has turned into something that is constantly happening for me all day long and I’m so much more intentional about it too. It's like talking to Jesus is my go to!
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