It’s been said that of all the human senses, that our sense of smell has the greatest trigger when it comes to memory. Smell is more closely linked to memory recall than any of our other senses. For instance, when we perchance smell a fragrance that we once smelled before, even many years ago, we are vividly and instantly transported back in time to that very moment and memory. In other words, smell is the greatest homing beacon to our memory banks.

It has also been said that God never forgets our prayers. For “our sighs and longings are not hidden from Him.” Psalm 38:9. Moreover, God not only hears the sighs that no one else hears, but it is said that our prayers are a “sweet smelling fragrance” to God. And if we are anything like our Father in heaven, if our prayers are a sweet smelling fragrance unto the nostrils of our Father in heaven, is it not possible that this is why our Father in heaven never forgets our prayers? Because He constantly has their fragrance filling His nostrils?

In the Old Testament, God decreed that the priests of Israel continually burn aromatic incense on the golden altar inside the Holy of Holies — a blend made of five exotic spices. But it wasn’t the fragrance alone that pleased God. It was also what the sweet smelling fragrance itself represents for God — being the unceasing and constant prayers of His people, a holy nation and a royal priesthood.

In fact, being directly associated with the prayers of God’s people, the incense was so pure and sacredly sweet to God that any deviation from what God had explicitly commanded was met with a swift death, as Nadab and Abihu found out. Leviticus 10:1–2. Given God’s intense high regard for prayer, and His appreciation for its beautiful fragrance, is this also not why it is written in both the Old and New Testament that we are to be called “a house of prayer”?

Not one prayer is wasted. Not one prayer is forgotten. And if we ever need to remind ourselves how much God holds our prayers dear and whether He cherishes our prayers, in the New Testament, Revelation 5:8 tells us that the prayers we utter are so pleasing and precious to God that He collects them in “golden bowls” in heaven. And is gold not the benchmark of value, even in heaven? For shall the streets of Jerusalem not be paved with gold? And are we not all called to buy from Him gold refined by fire? And is the altar upon which He burns the incense of our prayers not gold?

Not only does God hold our prayers so dear that He preserves them in golden bowls, but by keeping them close, He can continually enjoy their blessed and fragrant aroma. Which confirms that not only does He keep them forever before Him, which tells us our sighs are never hidden from Him, for how can they be hidden from Him if they are constantly before Him? But He constantly visits upon them. Like a returning nose forever bent lovingly towards the fragrance of a most beautiful rose.

So if we want to know how to keep ourselves forever before our God, is it not through prayer? For are our prayers not forever before Him? And do they not delight His nostrils? For is it not through prayer that we draw close to Him and how He draws close to us? “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8.

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

Jeremiah 33:3 

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."

Jeremiah 29:12

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Philippians 4:6

“if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14