Exodus 30 gives the directions for the altar of incense and the laver for the priests to wash.  It also gives the directions for how to make the incense and the anointing oil.  All of these things were to be exclusively used for worship in the tabernacle.. " It is most holy to the Lord".  Everything that was consecrated by the anointing oil was considered holy and anything that touched the holy things would then be considered holy. 

The altar of incense was placed outside of the holy of holies..in front of the veil where the ark of the covenant would stand. The incense was to be burned both in the morning and at twilight.. when the lamps were lit and when they were trimmed in the evening.  

In Revelation 8 we read about another altar where incense is burned.. before the throne of God. ."and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand."   The pure and holy incense that God required for His people touches the prayers of those who love Him.  Just as the Holy Spirit, as Ephesians 8:26 tells us, " helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." 

Father in heaven, holy and lifted up, let Your Name be honored in all of the earth.  Let Your Kingdom come in its fulness and power as Jesus reigns forever and ever.  Let Your will be done.. in me.. in Your people.. in all of the earth, as it is in heaven.  Let our prayers be mixed with the smoke of incense that comes before Your throne of grace.  Hear our prayers and the intercession made by Your Spirit who lives in us. We are full of weakness and do not know how to pray as we should, so pray for us Spirit of God, for You search our hearts and intercede for us according to the will of God.  Thank You for covering us with the lavish grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that we might be made holy. We our in Your hands. amen.