Hand-Lifting

Becoming a stronger version of yourself in God’s economy is not simply about self-improvement. A stronger you is very much about them. Your exercised faith is needed to help those around you. A believing faith, working out regularly with knees that are bent in prayer, results in a stronger you. And that kind of strength is precisely what is necessary to help lift the hands of those around you.

How can your faith become strengthened and, at the same time, help someone else? Sometimes it’s just as simple as showing someone else how God answered a specific prayer. That’s what happened in George Mueller’s life. He was an English preacher in the 1800s who opened an orphanage because he believed God asked him to do it. Mueller didn’t want anyone to sponsor the project. He didn’t want to ask anyone for money and he didn’t want a salary. Instead, he committed himself to become a stronger George. 

Every day, George went before the Lord in prayer with specific needs. He might pray, “Lord, the children need breakfast. I don’t know how we will feed them this morning if You don’t provide.” Then someone would show up with the food or the money or the supplies. Every time, for what grew to over 750 children and multiple orphanages, God met the needs. God helped George Mueller become a stronger George because his strengthening helped lift the hands of those he served. Such a testimony about God’s faithfulness available to anyone who will ask has outlived the life of the man. But you don’t have to be a George Mueller. 

You can be an average person, exercising faith in your ordinary life. When you pray for God to move in a specific way, like George, expect God to move on your behalf. Pray to believe God will be faithful (James 1:6-7), and when He responds, don’t keep that good news to yourself. Tell someone around you. It could make a difference in your growth and theirs. There are those who need to know God is real, and that He still hears His people. They need to know that He can do the miraculous in their life because He did it in yours. 

Yes. Lift up your hands and call on the Lord for whatever you need. But don’t forget that your hand-raising is also designed for hand-lifting.