Lift Up Holy Hands

“He placed the cherubim inside the innermost room of the temple, with their wings spread out.” 1 Kings 6:27

Raising your hands is such a small thing but can mean so much. I can think of three meanings straight away:

Firstly, if you’re being arrested, it’s the universal sign for surrender. Be arrested by God today – take a moment to totally surrender everything to Him. Successes and failures, possessions and needs, past and present, hopes and dreams. Our surrender invites Him into our world.

Secondly, if a friend walks towards you with their arms open wide, you know you’re in for a loving embrace or a fun bear hug. Let the Father bear hug you today, just like Jesus showed us He does to His lost children in Luke 15:20:

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

Parental love is perhaps like no other love – It is such a deep, inbuilt, drive of grace, mercy, compassion and desire to see your own children do well. God loves you with exactly that kind of illogical, dangerous, overwhelming parental love. He is overwhelmed with compassion and is going to do all He can do, to see you succeed and know His love.

Let God throw His arms around you today – to surround your heart with the loving embrace of His presence. Soak your mind in the pure, merciful love of God as you remember: “How great is the Fathers love, that He has lavished on us; that we should be called, children of God! For that is what we are.” (1 John 3:1)

Lastly, scientific studies of the human body have shown that standing up straight, with your face looking slightly upwards, your hands raised and your palms up, is a significant and powerful physical position. The tests have shown that it is very difficult to conjure up any negative emotion when you place your body in such a position.

Amazingly, it is the position of praise!

You were made to praise God because it keeps you emotionally healthy. Why not take some time in a quiet place to stand, raise your hands, and praise Him today?

“I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.” Psalm 63:4-5

No wonder the cherubim are designed to stand in the presence of God, wings (arms!) permanently lifted to God in worship. I hope that today, our arms would be lifted regularly in surrender, in embrace, in praise and in sacrifice. Surely God will dwell in such a surrendered life.

Action Point: Raise your arms up to God and spend time worshipping Him and thanking Him today.

I lift my hands as a sign of my dependence on God. “Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands” (Psalm 63:3–4). I stretch them toward heaven, knowing my help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1–2).

As I lift my hands, chains are broken, fear is silenced, and peace flows. My hands are not lifted in defeat—they are lifted in victory. I lift my hands as an offering of worship, a sign of yieldedness, and a declaration that Jesus is Lord over my life.

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