Toddlers put their hands up when they need something from their parents or want to be held. People at a football game cheer and raise their hands when their team scores a touchdown. A hiker – after hours of climbing – will pump his hands in the air when he summits the mountain. A man will raise his hands to show a police officer they are empty and not a threat.
Why do Christians raise their hands when we sing and worship the Lord in church?
The Psalms speak a lot about us using our bodies in worship – standing, kneeling, raising our hands, bowing our heads, and dancing. We are physical beings and it is good and right to express our praise and worship of God not only with our hearts and our voices, but also with our bodies.
Of course, raising your hands in worship may not come naturally or feel comfortable for you. The comedian Tim Hawkins has a bit about the different levels and positions of raising your hands in worship. It’s pretty funny – and also pretty true! And while your personality and culture certainly impacts whether you raise one arm or two – or whether your hands stay below the shoulders or above – the Scriptures do model this posture of prayer and worship. There are many reasons we raise our hands when singing or praying to God.
It directs our hearts toward God who is seated on high in heaven.
“Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.” | Psalm 28:2
“Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD! May the LORD bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!” | Psalm 134:2-3
“Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven…” | Lamentations 3:41
It is an expression of humble prayer and repentance before God.
“Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven, and said, ‘O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart…listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.” | 1 Kings 8:22-23, 30 & 2 Chronicles 6:12-13
“And at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garment and my cloak torn, and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God, saying: ‘O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.’” | Ezra 9:5-6
It is a position of sincerity and openness, showing we have nothing to hide.
“O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!” | Psalm 141:1-2
“I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling…” | 1 Timothy 2:8
It shows a desperate need for help and provision from God.
“Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips.” | Psalm 63:3-5
God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry! For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol… my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call upon you, O LORD; I spread out my hands to you.” | Psalm 88:1-3, 9
It is a posture of willingness to receive and obey the Word of God.
“And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, ‘Amen, Amen,’ lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.” | Nehemiah 8:5-6
I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.” | Psalm 119:48
There are so many reasons to lift up your hands to your God and Savior!
Of course sometimes our hearts and hands feel heavy. In these times, prayer with our voices and worship with our hands feels difficult. And while I would never recommend anyone “fake it” before the Lord, sometimes we need to step out in faith. Sometimes the very act of whispering a prayer, singing a song, or lifting your hands can stir your heart. Sometimes our bodies can actually lead our souls! So, consider all the ways you need God and then worship him with an open, humble heart. Lift up your hands and show God you are eager to receive from him.
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