There was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour…And another angel came and stood at the altar…and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God.
—Revelation 8:1, 3-4
“There was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour,” to bring the prayers of the saints before God. Tens of thousands of God’s children have felt the absolute need for silence and detachment from the things of earth for half an hour, in order to present their prayers before God and, in fellowship with Him, to be strengthened for their daily work.
How often the complaint is heard that there is no time for prayer! Very often the confession is made that, even if time could be found, one feels unable to spend the time in real fellowship with God. No one needs to ask what it is that hinders growth in the spiritual life. The secret of strength can only be found in living communion with God.
O dear Christian, if you would only obey Christ when He says, “When thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret” (Matthew 6:6)! If you would only have the courage to be alone with God for half an hour! Do not think to yourself, “I will not know how to spend the time.” Just believe that if you are faithful, bowing in silence before God, He will reveal Himself to you.
If you need help, read some passage of Scripture and let God’s Word speak to you. Then bow in deepest humility before God, and wait on Him. He will work within you. Read Psalm 61, 62, or 63, and speak the words out. Then begin to pray. Intercede for your own household, for the congregation, for the church and minister, for schools and missions. Continue praying though the time may seem long. God will reward you. Above all, be sure you meet God.
God desires to bless you. Is it not worth the trouble to spend half an hour alone with God? In heaven itself, there was need for half an hour’s silence to present the prayers of the saints before God. If you persevere, you may find that the half hour that seems the most difficult in the whole day may eventually become the most blessed in your whole life. “My soul, wait Thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him” (Psalm 62:5).