Have you ever wondered why God's Word talks about lifting our hands, Holy Hands unto Him. Depending on the spiritual roads you have traveled over the years, this practice may or may not be new to you.
My first recollection of anyone lifting their hands to the Lord was in the church of my childhood. Each Sunday at the close of the service the pastor would walk to the rear of the sanctuary lift both hands in a large V over his head and repeat the benediction.
Numbers 6:25 is the passage that comes to mind. "May the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace." These were the words the Lord gave Moses to give to Aaron and his sons, with which to bless the Israelites. Jews to this day use this blessing. I challenge you to meditate on this verse and gain a new understanding of it's scope. We would do well to lift our hands and offer these words in prayer over our mates, our children, our friends and our enemies.
In a cursory search of the Scriptures I found more than fifteen references to lifting ones hands in supplication to the Lord.
Psalm 119:48 says "I will lift up my hands to (for) Your commands, which I love, and I will meditate on your decrees." How do we know His commands? By reading and meditating on His Word. Open, lifted hands, mean surrender.
1st Timothy 2:8 reads "Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath or dissension." We can pray where ever we are.
Psalm 141:2 " May my prayer be counted as incense before Thee; the lifting up of my hands as the evening offering." Their custom was to pray a minimum of three times a day.
My challenge is to find the other twelve plus scriptures that talk about lifting up of Hands, Holy Hands and re-evaluate your thinking on the subject.
Blessings on all as Passover begins and Resurrection Day arrives. May these next days have even greater meaning for you this year.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Morning Watch
Ezekiel 3:17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me".
During my high school years I was privileged to attend "Church Camp". One of the exercises we were given was to attend "Morning Watch" each day. As I recall we were given a little book containing devotions. We were to take our Bibles and devotional book, find a quite spot under a tree or down by the river and spend fifteen minutes "with the Lord". That experience has stayed with me to varying degrees for the last fifty years.
Since then I've come in contact with the words of Francis Thompson 1859-1907, "The Hound of Heaven". To be honest I have only read three quarters of this lengthy poem, the point being, The "Hound of Heaven" pursued me, caught up with me in the early seventies and continues to dog my steps.
Since then the "Morning Watch" has taken on new meaning, ever changing as the years have past. In Old Testament times there were watchmen set on the walls or in watch towers during the night especially, to protect from wild animals or armed enemies. They waited patiently for the dawn so they could relinquish their post. Psalm 130:6 "My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen wait for the morning, more than the watchmen wait for the morning".
If I were to admit to having an addiction, it would be my morning coffee, just let me omit it for one day and my body screams, at least my head does. Yet there is another omission that causes another kind of pain. that is the omission of my "Morning Watch", my time with the Lord in prayer and in His Word. It is the food that nourishes my soul and my spirit, it is the fresh manna, it is the my daily bread. Admittedly there have been days and even weeks when "Morning Watch"been omitted but gratefully the "Hound Of Heaven" reminds me of my need. He is always right there waiting. He is waiting for you.
During my high school years I was privileged to attend "Church Camp". One of the exercises we were given was to attend "Morning Watch" each day. As I recall we were given a little book containing devotions. We were to take our Bibles and devotional book, find a quite spot under a tree or down by the river and spend fifteen minutes "with the Lord". That experience has stayed with me to varying degrees for the last fifty years.
Since then I've come in contact with the words of Francis Thompson 1859-1907, "The Hound of Heaven". To be honest I have only read three quarters of this lengthy poem, the point being, The "Hound of Heaven" pursued me, caught up with me in the early seventies and continues to dog my steps.
Since then the "Morning Watch" has taken on new meaning, ever changing as the years have past. In Old Testament times there were watchmen set on the walls or in watch towers during the night especially, to protect from wild animals or armed enemies. They waited patiently for the dawn so they could relinquish their post. Psalm 130:6 "My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen wait for the morning, more than the watchmen wait for the morning".
If I were to admit to having an addiction, it would be my morning coffee, just let me omit it for one day and my body screams, at least my head does. Yet there is another omission that causes another kind of pain. that is the omission of my "Morning Watch", my time with the Lord in prayer and in His Word. It is the food that nourishes my soul and my spirit, it is the fresh manna, it is the my daily bread. Admittedly there have been days and even weeks when "Morning Watch"been omitted but gratefully the "Hound Of Heaven" reminds me of my need. He is always right there waiting. He is waiting for you.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
The Heavens Declare
Psalm 19:1 in the NIV begins "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Today is the first day of Spring. Gratefully here in West Central Florida the day fit it's name. The azaleas were in full bloom, the trees in glorious stages of leaf and the sky a fabulous shade of periwinkle blue.
My middle daughter sent my oldest daughter on a search and explore mission. I was invited to go along. Heading west brought us to one of the bridges that traverses Tampa Bay, the water was nearly the color of the sky, shimmering in the sunlight. Not only do the heavens declare God's glory, He has placed in our view a mirror that magnifies that beauty.
Even with all the turmoil in this country and the world our God is gracious to minister peace and tranquility.
Psalm 19 ends with verse 14 which reads "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."
Blessings.
Today is the first day of Spring. Gratefully here in West Central Florida the day fit it's name. The azaleas were in full bloom, the trees in glorious stages of leaf and the sky a fabulous shade of periwinkle blue.
My middle daughter sent my oldest daughter on a search and explore mission. I was invited to go along. Heading west brought us to one of the bridges that traverses Tampa Bay, the water was nearly the color of the sky, shimmering in the sunlight. Not only do the heavens declare God's glory, He has placed in our view a mirror that magnifies that beauty.
Even with all the turmoil in this country and the world our God is gracious to minister peace and tranquility.
Psalm 19 ends with verse 14 which reads "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."
Blessings.
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