Thirty Days of Thanksgiving and Worship Muestra

Lifted Hands...

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
Psalm 63:3-4

Throughout the Scriptures, we find various physical postures in thanksgiving, praise, and worship that can tamper with our comfort. No matter your denominational background, we have either seen or heard of worship practices we may question. Nevertheless, we cannot deny that God’s Word doesn’t just invite us to worship our beloved King with words and songs of praise; it summons us to incorporate physical worship.

Let’s look at the blessed gift of lifting our hands.

Universally, the sign of surrender is the raising of our hands and arms above our heads. Yes, surrender is at the apex of every worship time. With hands lifted high, we are at our most vulnerable; we are not covering ourselves. We are not trying to preserve or protect ourselves. When I intentionally raise my hands (because like anything we do, even this gesture can become rote and meaningless), I am signifying my abandonment to God’s rule and reign in my life.

When I place my hands out before me at waist level, it’s as if I am bringing an offering. I am making an exchange of my stuff for His splendor. And as I extend my arms and hands intentionally to my side, it’s as if I am saying, have at me, Lord.

And finally, perhaps the most endearing and sweet aspect of raising my hands to Abba, I am coming as a little child to my Wonder-full Father and exclaiming, Daddy, You are the best! Please hold me!

If you haven’t yet practiced this form of worship, be encouraged to in the privacy of your time alone with Jesus or in your church setting. Both you and He will find great pleasure when you do.