In many places in the Psalms, the Hebrew word for praise literally means to worship with ones hands. One extends their hands to offer reverence. One bemoans by wringing of their hands. One claps their hands to honor. It comes from the root word in Hebrew �yad� which means an open hand indicating power, means, or direction. How often do we pray for God to hold us in the palm of His hand? How often do we ask for Him to place His hands upon us? The most powerful extension of the divine hand was the open, nail-pierced, crucified hand of the Savior. There was never in all the universe more power in any hand since the beginning of time because the power of that crucified hand took away the sins of the world.
So when we extend uplifted hands, we acknowledge the power of that crucified hand of the Savior. We are showing to God an open hand although human, weak, and contaminated. God sees our hands. Some may have scars, calluses, or even some maybe smooth and soft. But none could do what the Savior�s hands did. We are recognizing the power of that hand when we lift our hands toward heaven. We are showing our own dependence upon the hand of the Savior. Yet at the same time we are asking God to receive the praise of our hands which are symbols of Christ�s hands by:
Sacrificed Hands
Christ�s hands were an object of sacrifice. Is that not worship? Is that not praise? I wonder if that is not what the writers meant when they said, �Offer the sacrifice of praise.� By lifting our hands we offer the sacrifice of praise because it is symbolic of Christ�s hands which are included in His ultimate sacrifice. Therefore, we are offering the sacrifice of praise.
Strengthened Hands
His hands were a source of strength. When we lift our hands to praise, we are asking for His strength, even the strength of the Cross. How many times did he lay His hands on the sick, diseased, and destitute and they were healed and delivered? How often did he perform great miracles with His hands? Oh, yes, His hands were a source of strength and when we lift our hands toward heaven we are asking to be part of His strength by impartation of that strength into us.
Sharing Hands
Christ�s hands were an item of fellowship. How often did He gather children and the outcasts to Him with His hands? How often do we shake hands in fellowship with like believers confirming by our hands evidence of the common bond and love that we share with them? When we lift our hands to worship, we are asking God for His fellowship.
The uplifted hand is a very powerful worship unto the Lord. The psalmist says �Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.� (Ps. 134:2) The Apostle Paul in I Timothy 2:8 says to �lift up holy hands without wrath or doubt.� The power and effectiveness of prayer depends on doing so without hatred toward anyone, without an unforgiving spirit, and without disputing or reasoning within over what is being requested. What makes one�s hands holy is the blood of Jesus and His sacrificed hand. What makes our uplifted hands effective is the strength from the Savior�s hands. What makes our uplifted hands powerful are the nail-pierced hands of the Savior which at the time of His crucifixion shared His love by forgiving even those who crucified him. Let us do and be like Jesus.
To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus, that's all I ask is to be like Him, Althrough life's journey, from earth to glory, That's all I ask is to be like Him. I praise Him, because He loved me and gave His life for me, that I might live and declare the wonderful works of the LORD. I could have died so many times, but only through Him and I alive and have my being. I praise the LORD for His grace and mercy.
Praise the Lord in everything is a powerful way to live a Christian life. Len
LENS LINES ------------A little religion on a positive note By Len Granger
Praise the Lord in Everything.
We find the Bible tells us to give Praise and thank the Lord for everything that comes our way. Thess: 5:18 " In everything give thanks; for this the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. " That is easy to do when the answers to prayers are what we had been praying for and wanted to hear. But when our prayers are not quickly answered or put on the side track, or the answer to our prayer was not what we had asked the Lord for, do we still give him the Praise and thank the Lord? Christians have long taught from God's word that all things come from the Lord and we are to Praise and thank him. Only God alone has the roadmap for our life and can see what is best for us, if we only trust him though out our lives.
Over several years I have subscribed to the Mayo Clinic Health Letter ( Tools for Healthier Lives) and in the May 2011 issue, there is a number of pages on how to improve your health. The normal things we hear on exercise, eating properly are all mentioned. However, they have now included a section in their own words that is very much like the Bible tells us. The following is quoted .
-----" Develop a Deep Sense of Gratitude for Life" -----
"Some people describe gratitude as your moral memory-----a combination of humility, grace, love and acceptance. Each day, identify at least one thing that enriches your life. Living with an "attitude of gratitude" means being thankful for every experience ----Good or Bad -----and recognizing those experiences are an opportunity to learn and grow. Let gratitude be your last thought before you fall to sleep at night and your first thought upon awaking in the morning" (end of quote)
Let us all give the Lord praise each day for all the things that come our way and try our best to follow in his footsteps. Trust we will all be praising God in the church of our choice this coming Sunday. God Bless America
