Prayer Postures
Psalm 141:2 (ESV) says, “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!” Many of us have seen church-goers raising their hands during a worship anthem or lifting a hand when they are blessed during a powerful message.
It is one of those things that we just see in churches. You see it more in some churches than others, but generally speaking, lifted hands are connected with a cry of prayer and worship.
Things like this can become so common in the church that we might not think to ask why we do them. I have heard pastors talk about the hands in the air representing the universal sign of surrender or reaching out to touch the Lord. I think it means different things at different times, but it is an important prayer posture for us to note.
Interconnected
Yesterday, I talked about the power of letting our physical bodies lead our spirit into worship. Most of the time, it is easier to move our two hands into the air than it is to achieve some spiritual feat of worship. I think God designed us this way, with our heart, mind, soul, and strength interconnected.
When we experience heartbreak, although it is purely an emotional struggle, we often experience physical and mental pain. When we get good news, we might feel energy and warmth over our whole body. Chronic illness can have an impact on mental, emotional, and spiritual health. They are all connected.
Thus the power of prayer postures cannot be overlooked. I can see my hands, but I want to lift spiritual hands to the Lord, so I start with what I have to work with.
The Importance Of Lifting Hands
Lifting our hands to the Lord is primarily about honor and adoration. It is a symbol that we can see the splendor and majesty of who he is. It is a sign that we are putting our trust in him and recognizing his place as God. When we lift our hands, it is a sacrifice of worship.
Psalm 141 is a vivid account of David’s struggle with wickedness all around him. He compares the lifting of his hands to the evening sacrifice. Lifted hands will always be a posture of prayer and worship.
I know that practicing lifting our hands can be uncomfortable, particularly in public. I will share more about that tomorrow, but today I want to challenge you in private to practice the lifting of your hands. With no one watching, try saying a few prayers but lift your hands to the Lord and let your inner being follow that posture shift into a position of surrender.
