What Happens to Our Prayers?

Here's a question for you: What happens to our prayers once they have been heard and answered by God? They have completed their purpose and are just notations in our prayer journals, right?

No, actually, our prayers don't stop there. In His gracious economy, God has a further purpose for our prayers.

Revelation 5 gives us some insight into this. As John watched, a scroll was presented, but there was no one found in heaven or on earth or under the earth who was worthy to open it. John wept and wept,  until one of the elders pointed out the Lion/Lamb to him. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seal,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth" (5:7-10).

Our prayers are incense, filling the bowls of the elders in heaven! He has made of us, His saints, a kingdom and priests to serve Him. Our prayers -- prayers of praise to God and petition for ourselves and our world -- are sweet smelling offerings to God, used in worship of Him. Not only has He redeemed us by His blood, He cherishes our prayers and repurposes them for heavenly worship!