If you want to see more success and victories in your life, learn to lift your hands to the Lord as you set your mind on Him in prayer and worship.
I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting (1 Timothy 2:8).
The Bible shows us something remarkable on how the children of Israel recorded victory over the Amalekites. Moses had instructed Joshua to take soldiers to fight Amalek. Joshua did as Moses instructed, but Moses decided to go to the top of the hills, with Aaron and Hur, whilst Joshua battled the Amalekites.
As the battle progressed, Aaron and Hur made an observation. They noticed that every time Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed in the battle against Amalek. However, when his hands went down, Amalek prevailed. They decided therefore, to support Moses by lifting his hands on either side, while Moses sat on a stone. As a result, the Bible says, “…Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword” (Exodus 17:13).
What’s most inspiring about this is how an act of faith in the earth activated heavenly powers and caused victory for God’s people. Moses wasn’t talking, but as long as his hands were lifted to the Lord, Israel prevailed. It shows that there’s a profuse effusion of divine power as we lift our hands in prayer and worship. There’s victory-power through our hands. No wonder Paul said, “I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands…” (1 Timothy 2:8).
If you want to see more success and victories in your life, learn to lift your hands to the Lord as you set your mind on Him in prayer and worship; it’s a strategy of the Spirit to discomfit the adversary. Perhaps you’re in church, your cell-group or fellowship meetings, and the Pastor or leader says, “Lift your hands to the Lord in worship,” don’t take them up and bring them down carelessly, because you feel tired. Keep them lifted to the Lord. Train yourself in this.
There’s something deeply spiritual about lifting and waving your hands to the Lord in worship and prayer. It brings and signals victory and dominion over your circumstances and adversaries. Glory to God!
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice (Psalm 141:2).
When David wrote this Psalm, he was well acquainted with the priesthood ministry of the Old Testament in the old tabernacle. Also, being a prophet of God, he, by the Spirit, had a revelation of the New Testament. So, he spoke prophetically and likened the evening sacrifice in the Old Testament to the lifting of our hands in worship today.
Lifting our hands to the Lord in worship is an offering to Him, not a mere religious routine as some folks thinks. It’s not just a sign, it’s a ministry! When our hands are lifted to the Lord in worship, we’re declaring that we’ve accepted the judgment of the Lamb of God – Jesus Christ – for our sins and yielded ourselves to Him. Thus, when our hands are lifted up in His presence with this consciousness, no sin can condemn us.
The lifting of our hands today has taken the place of the burnt offering in the Old Testament. No wonder the Apostle Paul wrote thus to Timothy: “I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath or doubting” (1 Timothy 2:8). Paul here was referring to spiritual worship, where we extol the King and glorify His holy Name with our hands lifted high!
So right now, with your hands lifted, offer praise and adoration to the Father from a joyful heart, full of love and thanksgiving. Glorify Him for His love, mercy, and kindness towards you! Tell Him how much you love Him
When you lift your hands to the Lord, you may have observed that sometimes, they seem to tremble somehow. They weren’t shaking that way before you started praying and lifted them to the Lord. But the moment you raised them, the anointing came on them, and they started shaking; it’s a signal of the touch of the Spirit at that moment. And if you recognize it and accept what the Spirit of God is doing, and how He’s getting your attention, a lot more could happen.
But not many understand these things. They must be taught. Spiritual things can be taught, just as natural things of life can be taught. And once you learn them and respond accordingly, you’ll be amazed at how your life just keeps moving forward and upward. There’s something deeply spiritual and pleasing to the Lord about lifting your hands to Him in worship and prayer. Though your hands are physical, there’s a connection between them and your spirit when you lift them up to the Lord. It’s a spiritual connection between the outward nature and the inward man. It’s not a mere routine. You’re using them to guide your spirit towards God.
In Psalm 141:2, David said, “Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” The lifting up of your hands to the Lord is far more pleasing to Him than offering physical sacrifices. If the Lord delights so much in seeing you lift your holy hands to Him, then it means it’s something you should take very seriously. You ought to do it because the Word says so! It’s a training you must imbibe, for it’s a spiritual act of reverence.