Lifted Hands

” Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the Lord.” Ps. 134:2

“So I will bless you as long as I live; at your name I will lift up my hands.” Ps. 63:4

“I spread out my hands to you; I am like parched land before you.” Ps. 143:6

When a small child wants anything from his parent, he runs to them and reaches both hands up as far as he can reach, fingers spread wide with urgency. It’s an instinct born of need to reach out to the one who can fill that need. When that same child receives what is desired or needed, he raises his hands again, this time in celebration.

In Bible accounts of God’s people approaching Him in prayer, they spread their hands out to Him in a gesture of appeal, much like that of a child. They instinctively reached for the One who could fill every need. When they sang songs of praise they lifted hands high in celebration of His glory and provision. They worshipped Him.

“Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.” 1 Tim. 2:8

When we as God’s people approach Him today we must still have this attitude of child-like trust and appeal. We must come to Him without reservation, knowing without possibility of being dissuaded that He will hear and respond. When we offer gratitude, it must be more than just empty words; it must be drawn from deep within us, so joyful that it cannot be buried or contained. We must worship, our hands and our souls spread high before Him.