LIFTING UP HOLY HANDS

"In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy. " I Timothy 2:8 NLT

There are many postures of prayer, but in this passage the Apostle Paul says God wants you to do it “with holy hands lifted up.” Some of you do it all the time; others of you never do it at all. To those of you who don’t, I want to say that lifting your hands is both an act of worship and an act of surrender. You actually feel both those things in your body when you lift your hands. It involves giving up the things you are holding tight and it involves keeping those same hands free to receive back. Try it.

What do you "give up" when you lift your holy hands? I Timothy 2:8 tells you. It says, “I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.” You give up your anger when you pray with lifted hands. You need to give up your rights. Quit keeping score. Quit harboring resentment over wrongs that have been done to you. You can't pray and hold onto those things at the same time. Quit keeping tabs on people. It isn't your job. Attempting to control others only results in anger and creates an unhealthy atmosphere of controversy. Quit judging. Give grace. Visualize your perceived wrongs and your real wrongs floating away as you open your uplifted hands. Think of it like helium-filled balloons rising to the sky. It’s unbelievably freeing!

Also, lift your hands with expectancy. As you give up the petty things you have been holding on to, keep your hands free to receive the riches of heaven that God longs to give back. When you come to God with empty hands, you never leave with empty hands. When you give up, God will give back. We always receive back “infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20b). You will never be on the short end!