Why do so many Christians ignore an oft repeated biblical command for worship--lifting up our hands? Many Christians get angry when pastors ask then to lift their hands and praise the Lord, arguing that doing so feels showy and unnatural to them and they don't like being manipulated. Paul directly addresses this resistance in 1 Timothy 2:8: "In every place I want men to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument (1 Timothy 2:8)."
Paul finds his authority for this command in Old Testament instructions on how to worship:
"Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord (Psalm 134:2)."
The act of surrender expressed by raised hands sweetens our prayers like Temple incense:
"Let my prayer be counted as incense before You and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice (Psalm 131:2)." This verse inspires John's vision in which he sees heavenly elders holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints (Revelation 5:8).
Lifting up our hands in worship can sweeten our praise by inflaming our passion for God:
"Let us lift up our hearts as well as our hands to God in Heaven (Lam. 3:41)."
"I stretch out my hands to You; my soul; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land. Answer me quickly, Lord; for my spirit fails (Psalm 143:6-7)."
Lifting up hands can also deepen our longing for effective petitionary prayer:
"Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to Him for the lives of your children who faint for hunger at the head of every street (Lam. 2:41)."
Paul finds his authority for this command in Old Testament instructions on how to worship:
"Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord (Psalm 134:2)."
The act of surrender expressed by raised hands sweetens our prayers like Temple incense:
"Let my prayer be counted as incense before You and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice (Psalm 131:2)." This verse inspires John's vision in which he sees heavenly elders holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints (Revelation 5:8).
Lifting up our hands in worship can sweeten our praise by inflaming our passion for God:
"Let us lift up our hearts as well as our hands to God in Heaven (Lam. 3:41)."
"I stretch out my hands to You; my soul; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land. Answer me quickly, Lord; for my spirit fails (Psalm 143:6-7)."
Lifting up hands can also deepen our longing for effective petitionary prayer:
"Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to Him for the lives of your children who faint for hunger at the head of every street (Lam. 2:41)."
