Lifting Holy Hands
- Bishop Keith Butler
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. (1 Timothy 2:8)
Paul was a no-nonsense leader. When he received an instruction from God, he made sure it was carried out. That’s why Paul used such emphatic language when discussing the way people should approach prayer. His phrase “I will” in this context didn’t imply “If you feel like it” or “if it’s convenient.” He declared, “This is God’s will, which means it should also be our will.” Prayer is not confined to a church building or a corner of someone’s house. Prayer is intended to happen everywhere—whether at home, in the car, at work, or even in the grocery store. We are called to live a life of constant prayer.
However, Paul explained the posture he wanted believers to adopt during prayer. He said he wanted believers to pray by lifting up holy hands. Some may observe Christians raising their hands and question why, but the Bible provides clear reasons for this practice.
When we raise our hands, we acknowledge God’s authority. It’s a gesture of acceptance of God’s will and ways as superior to our own.
Lifting our hands is an act of surrender. Just like when a police officer says, “Put your hands up,” we understand that raising our hands is a universal sign of surrender. As we pray and lift our hands, we are expressing, “Lord, I surrender everything in my life to your will.”
At the end of this verse, Paul provided an essential instruction on the attitude we must take in prayer: We must do this “without wrath and doubting.” Anger and arguments can hinder prayer. If we approach God with bitterness, skepticism, and frustration, we don’t have the right heart to expect Him to move. We must come to God full of faith and expectation, allowing Him to wipe away any of the pain of the past.
Practical Application
Don’t hesitate to physically express your reverence to God in prayer by raising your hands or bowing your head. Before praying for someone or something, ask God to remove any anger and doubt, and expect that things will change when you pray.