Worship: With Raised Hands

Our hands are powerful. They can bring comfort to a wounded person, while they can also be tools of anger, evil, and violence. Our hands serve a purpose to construct havens of rest, and to provide the surgical work to bring healing in people’s lives. Our hands are also important in our worship, as we worship the Lord with our hands.

In 1 Timothy 2:8 we read, “Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.” For most of my life, I have been in worshiping communities where people were led to lift holy hands during times of worship. I have witnessed people surrendering to the Lord with lifted hands. I have witnessed people thanking the Lord with lifted hands. I have witnessed people praising the Lord with lifted hands.

As an active worshiper, I tend to use my body as part of my expression of worship. As I raise my hands in worship, the purpose and meaning of the lifted hands can be different dependent on the situation.

1. Sometimes, my lifted hands are in praise to the Lord. Just like a fan who is celebrating their team’s championship game win, I raise my hands in celebration that our team (the Kingdom of God) is victorious.
2. Sometimes, my lifted hands are in thanksgiving to the Lord. As I raise my hands, I am announcing the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord in my life. My hands may be straight in the air or may be projecting out from my sides as I envision a big hug of thankfulness to my Lord.
3. Sometimes, my lifted hands are in surrender, as I put my hands up in a posture of absolute dependence on God in my life. It is often in these times of surrender that I may be pouring out what I need to give up and receiving from the Lord the gifts He has for me.

The lifted hands in worship are an outward response to the heart condition. Paul in writing to Timothy is inviting the people to understand the raising of hands should be from a heart that is not bound by anger or disputing. In Psalm 24:3-4 we read, “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.” The call for us to worship with raised hands challenges us to come with clean hands (one’s not filled with anger or disputing) and a pure heart.

As we come to worship each week, how often are we coming with anger or dispute in our hearts? Our hands may be raised, but they are raised in anger at one another (picture fists pointed toward one another) or in dispute with one another (picture fingers pointed at one another). We cannot experience the fullness of worship or ascend the hill of the Lord if we do not seek forgiveness and reconciliation that brings transformation.

Is God calling you to raise holy hands in worship? If so, how are you seeking the Lord to give you clean hands and a pure heart? I pray you will experience the power of worship as you gather with your community this week.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times I allow anger and dispute to impede my worship of you. Forgive me and bring unity to my community. In Jesus’ name. Amen.