Open Hands Open Hearts

I knew I'd written on the subject of lifting of our hands in worship at some point. As I went searching for it had no idea it was well over a year ago. I've re-posted the original piece from March of 2010. How time flies.
Yesterday was an especially glorious day in our Lord's presence.Please don't take me as some super spiritual whoever. It's certainly not that way all the time.
I just finished one book, The Divine Embrace by Ken Gire and embarked on a journey with Ann Voskamp through One Thousand Gifts. Both authors are brutally honest in their presentations. That is the challenge of the day for me.
Almost half of my life has been spent in fear. My mother died of polio when I was almost three, she was thirty five years old. For most of the first twenty some years of my life, I was certain I would die before reaching that milestone. In 1970 a whole new Spiritual world opened up to me. Release from that fear among others began to unfold.
Lord your presence is once more so very real. Coming to accept my mother's death was a tremendous turning point. I'm not sure of the process that took place but I am extremely grateful that God took me down that road.

Jack Hayford is one of my favorite teachers of God's Word. Last night he spoke on what it means to extend our hands in Worship. I offer a brief outline of his talk, my you think on the points he shared.

Why the hands? What part of the body do I use the most?

His text was Romans 12;1

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

First: I Reach beyond myself. Open hands extended offering my heart to receive.

Second: Ask for council, wisdom.


Third: Invite God's presence into every area of my life.

Forth: Surrender the up raised hands are the universal sign of surrender. I give myself, a living sacrifice.

Fifth: Embrace Taking to myself all of who God says He is, all he offers me by His Word and His presence.

Meditaion:Psalm 63:1-8.

This is my hearts cry.


Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Holy Hands

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.

The Lord Our Peace

The late David Wilkerson said it much better than I ever could so I share it with you.

THE LORD OUR PEACE

by David Wilkerson |

Knowing and believing in God’s character as revealed in his names provides great protection against enemy attack. God declared through Hosea, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). The implication here is powerful. God is telling us that having an intimate knowledge of his nature and character, as revealed through his names, is a powerful shield against Satan’s lies.

This brings us to another of our Lord’s names: Jehovah Shalom. We find this name mentioned in the book of Judges. Here, the Lord revealed himself to Gideon in the form of an angel (see Judges 6:22–24). What does this name, Jehovah Shalom, mean exactly? As a noun, the Hebrew word shalom means “completeness, health, welfare.” It implies being whole, in harmony with God and man, having wholesome relationships. It also indicates a state of being at ease—not restless, having peace both inwardly and outwardly, being at rest both spiritually and emotionally. In short, shalom signifies wholeness in a life or work. And as a verb, shalom means to be completed or finished, or to make peace.

Once more, I’m driven to ask, “What does this particular name of God have to do with me and with the church today?”

Shalom cannot be earned. We’ll never receive the Lord’s shalom until we realize, “This is serious business. This is God almighty I’m dealing with, creator and sustainer of the universe. How can I continue taking him for granted? Why do I still test his grace, living with this lust as if he is deaf and blind to my secret acts?” Do you tremble at God’s Word? Are you ready to obey everything it says? If so, you’ll receive the revelation of Jehovah Shalom. He’ll come to you personally as “the Lord, your peace,” filling your spirit with supernatural strength against every enemy. You can’t earn this kind of peace; it’s a gift from God.

Are You Ready?

Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus.

Much has taken place in our world in the last few months, quickly bringing us closer and closer to the "Day of the Lord". Enemies are closing in on Israel, our own country along with many others is facing economic collapse. All over the world disasters are hitting hard and fast along with the ongoing wars in North Africa and the middle east.

Again I ask are you ready?

Not just are you physically prepared as I talked about last time but are you cont inuring to seek the Lord to bring increased strength into your heart and life.
Is the love and comfort of our Lord your daily companion or do the news headlines cause that horrible sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. Our Lord desires for us to know His peace, His sustaining power, His great love with a surety that does not waver.
Once again with the prophet Joel 2:1.
I say "Blow a trumpet in Zion, sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble for the day of the Lord is coming surely it is near."
As you are ready for whatever is in store for us, are you encouraging others to prepare, spiritually?

Hebrews 13:5&6 says, Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you." so that we confidently say, The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid what shall man do to me?

Can we say as Job 13:15? "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."

We are not promised physical comforts but we are promised peace. John 14:27 "My peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world gives, give I unto you let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."