Ready my Hands, Lord

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hands. Psalm 37: 23-24

Are your hands open or closed?

Ready or resistant to all God has for you?

Are you holding onto your life with close-fisted hands, unable to see past your today?

Often, when we close our hands to God, we place ourselves back in the driver’s seat.

Back in charge we remove God from the throne, resulting in our closed hands. Our grip closed too tightly on how we see our future. Our todays. And our past.

Why do we close our hands to God?

Fear of change. We tend to love routine, yes?

Fear of making the wrong choice. We all want to follow God’s plan, yes?

But closing our hands to God points ultimately to fear of completely trusting God.

We cannot see God sitting next to us on the couch, but He is.

We cannot see God moving in our life, but He is.

We cannot see God going before us, clearing the way, but He is.

God asks us to live with open hands to Him, allowing Him to move us closer to His loving arms.

When our hands are closed, gripping our own desires, we become closed to new things.

Closed to what God has for us.

Closed to the beautiful future God plans for us.

Look back at the faithfulness of God in your life.

Look at the many details He’s given, providing proof He sees and knows you.

As you fully trust God for your life, open your hands.

Release your grip tightened around your will alone.

And ready your hands as instead God pours His life into you.

Photos by Milada VigerovaAndrew MocaEugene ChystiakovCristofer Maximilian, &  Patrick Fore on Unsplash

Raised Hands

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3

When worshiping the Lord, we often raise our hands.

Why? Absolute surrender. Acknowledging God is God and we are not.

Proclaiming His holiness. Bringing ourselves to Him as an offering.

As we lift our hands to heaven in worship, God comes down.

Psalm 22:3 reminds us God inhabits our praise. Chooses to manifest His glory and power amid our worship.

Picture your hands raised to heaven.

As your voice lifts your song in worship, God reaches down to you.

His hands clasp yours, filling you with Himself.

He receives your worship as His glory comes down to you.

A holy exchange.

That picture jumped into my head today as we worshipped at church.

If I could bring you into my head, you’d get the full picture I wish I could correctly share.

It was beautiful. Comforting. Full of strength.

God longs to fill us with more of Him.

He is so worthy to be praised.

The next time you sing in worship to Him, raise those hands.

Give Him all of you as He reaches down to give you more of Him.

Photos by Jake HillSteve AdamsJametlene Reskp, & Guillaume de Germain on Unsplash