Thoughts as Incense

Distracting thoughts are great enemies of prayer. They can be like buzzing bees that drive us crazy!

Today I enjoyed Sabbath time with Jesus. With My Psalms Prayer Book in hand and candles lit at the altar in my prayer room I kneeled and prayed from Psalm 118.

The Word of God helped inflame the Spirit in my heart and burn away the distracting thoughts until little by little I was centered in God’s presence and my thoughts became as incense…

It lasted awhile. Of course, the bees came back! Lord, help me to keep the fire going! Guard my mind and heart with your peace (Colossians 3:1-3).

Try centering yourself in my Psalm 118 Prayer to calm down your anxious thoughts till they rise as incense prayers to God. Enjoy God’s presence. Re-kindle the fire as often as you can.

Thoughts as Incense (A Prayer from Psalm 118:8-14)

It’s better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in myself;

It’s better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in my thoughts.

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Distracting thoughts surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them off.

They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord Jesus I cut them off.

They swarmed around me like bees; in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I cut them off.

~

I was about to fall, but the Lord freed me from diversion;

The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

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It’s better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in myself;

It’s better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in my thoughts.

~

Distracting thoughts surrounded me, but the fire of the Spirit in me burned them as incense.

They surrounded me on every side, but the fire of the Holy Spirit in me burned them as incense.

They swarmed around me like bees; the fire of the Holy Spirit of Christ in me burned them as incense.

~

I was besieged, but the Lord flamed my thoughts into prayers;

The Lord captivates me with his glory! He is the delight of my heart!

Devoted to You

David is known as a man after God’s heart because of the way he prays. I so desire to be known as one who has a heart for God, don’t you?

You and I can grow to be more of a person after God’s heart! David shows us how in Psalm 86. In prayer dedicate each aspect of your person to the Lord. Psalm 86 is not well-known, but it’s one of my favorite of David’s prayers. It’s a prayer of whole-hearted devotion to the Lord. Let’s “take heart” from David!

Join me in praying “Devoted to You,” a prayer I adapted from Psalm 86. Linger on each line, praying it slowly and deeply to consecrate all that you are and all that you do the Lord God…

Devoted to You

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul:

Guard my life, O Lord, for I am devoted to you;

Guard my heart, O Father, for I love you with all my choices;

Guard my mind, O Jesus, for I fix my thoughts on following you;

Guard my body, O Spirit, for I give it to be your temple;

Guard my relationships, O Trinity, for I center my conversations on you.

Hear my prayer, O Lord.

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To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul:

I offer my eyes to you, O Lord, to behold your beauty;

I offer my lips to you, O Father, to speak your praises;

I offer my ears to you, O Jesus, to listen to your words;

I offer my steps to you, O Spirit, to follow your movements;

I offer my life to you, O Trinity, to honor you alone.

Hear my prayer, O Lord.

~

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