Many of us find prayer to be a life-giving, soul-enriching, ever-evolving challenge. At times, prayer seems to come naturally. At others, we feel like our wheels are spinning in a well-worn rut. If you’re going through a “dry season” in your efforts to pray, here’s something that has helped me: slowly read Revelation 4, close your eyes, and envision what you are praying being heard within that awesome scene.
Revelation 4 describes a throne in heaven.
Someone is seated on that throne with the appearance of jasper and carnelian.
Around the throne is a rainbow with the appearance of an emerald and twenty-four other thrones, with twenty-four elders seated on them. These elders are clothed in white garments with golden crowns on their heads.
From the throne come flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder.
There are seven torches of fire in front of the throne.
Before the throne, there is a sea of glass, like crystal.
Around the throne, on each side, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind. One is like a lion. Another is like an ox. The next has the face of a man. The last is like an eagle in flight. Each of them has six wings. Day and night they say,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”
They never stop.
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”
As they perpetually give glory and honor and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the twenty-four elders fall down before him, casting their crowns before his majesty, and continually worship, saying,
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”
Can you picture that incredible scene? Now realize that in the next chapter–Revelation 5–“the prayers of the saints” are described as incense in golden bowls that surround that throne.
That. Is. Extraordinary.
Through the sacrifice and priesthood of Jesus, access has been granted for us to draw near to this throne with confidence (Heb 4:14-16). The invitation has been extended to cast all our anxieties before this throne, because its eternal occupant cares for us (1 Pet 5:6-7).
Before you pray again, slowly read Revelation 4, close your eyes, and envision what you are praying being heard within the throne room of the Lord God Almighty.