God wants us to be a LIFTING UP and an UPLIFTING people, in our daily walk and in our homes. Yesterday we talked about lifting our eyes off our problems and lifting them up to Jesus.
Let’s look at more ways today:
GOD WANTS US TO LIFT UP OUR SOULS
Our souls are our inner being—our breath, souls, spirits, and minds—everything within us.
David said these words with enemies coming after him: “Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul” (Psalm 25:1). He confesses these words again in Psalm 86:4 and 143:8, 9. Do you daily lift your soul to the Lord? And continually throughout the day?
What about family times? Do you encourage your children to lift their souls to God as you pray together as a family each morning and evening?
God wants us to lift up our heads too. He reminds us that He is “the LIFTER UP OF MY HEAD” (Psalm 3:3). He wants us to also “look up and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth night” (Luke 21:28).
GOD WANTS US TO LIFT UP OUR HANDS
WHEN PRAISING AND WORSHIPPING GOD
1 Kings 8:22: “And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: And he said, LORD God, of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath . . .” (2 Chronicles 6:12).
Psalm 63:4: “Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.”
Encourage your children, while they are young, to raise their hands as they worship God. Children are not inhibited as adults and it’s the best time to get them into the habit . It should be a habit of their lives and something they should never be embarrassed about.
WHEN PRAYING, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE GREAT NEED OF GOD
Psalm 88:9: “Mine eye mourned by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.”
Psalm 143:6: “I stretched forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land.” Read also Psalm 28:1-3 and 86:1-4.
Lamentations 2:19: “Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street,”
Lamentations 3:41: “Let us lift up our heart WITH OUR HANDS unto God in the heavens.”
It’s not enough to pray with our heart. God wants us to lift up our hands too. I mostly lift up my hands in prayer. When I lift up my hands I show to God that my heart is stretched out toward Him. I find that I pray far more effectually with my heart and soul when I reach forth my hands to God. Bodily actions affect our inner being. Try it.
1 Timothy 2;8: “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”
WHEN BLESSING OTHERS
Leviticus 9:22: “And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people and blessed them.”
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1 Kings 8:54: “And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD from kneeling of his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying . . .” Read also 2 Samuel 6:7-20.
Ezra 8:6: “And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And ALL THE PEOPLE answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands . . .”
Luke 24:50: “And Jesus led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.”
And don’t you love this Scripture in Mark 10:16: “And Jesus took them (the little children) up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.” The TPT translation says “Then he embraced (caressed) each child, and laying his hands on them, he lovingly blessed each one.” Read also Luke 18:15, 16.
Of course, we encourage and bless our children. But it is also important to place our hands upon them and bless them. God wants our hands to be involved in blessing.
More tomorrow.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell