For Kids · 3 min with a grown-up
God plans a little golden altar for sweet-smelling incense — and it teaches us something beautiful about prayer.
Today's Story
God designed a small golden altar to stand inside the tent. On it, the priests would burn sweet-smelling incense every morning and every evening, so a lovely fragrance would rise up and fill God's house all the time.
That rising, sweet-smelling smoke was a picture of something wonderful: our prayers, rising up to God. When we pray, it's like a sweet smell drifting up to heaven — and God loves it. He loves to receive the prayers of His people, morning and evening and all day long.
God also planned a basin of water where the priests would wash before serving — coming to God clean. And a special oil to mark things as set apart for Him.
Every part pointed to the same thing: coming close to God, with clean hearts and rising prayers, morning and night.
A Big Word
Talk About It
- Your prayers rise to God like sweet incense, and He loves them. What's something you'd like to “send up” to God in prayer right now?
- The priests prayed morning AND evening. When are good times for YOU to pray each day?
- The priests washed to come to God clean. What helps you come to God with a clean, ready heart?