See part one of this series (Why Christians Often Pray On Bended Knees) for an explanation of why we’re presenting information that is probably obvious to many sojournmusic.com readers. This series will run a few more times, once per week, and hopefully answer questions from those who are curious about certain expressions of Christian worship.
Why Raise Our Hands When Singing And Praying?
You will often see someone lift one or both hands toward heaven in a worship service. There are thirty-nine Bible verses which describe hand-raising in blessing or “supplication” (a humble plea). When someone prays or sings with palms turned up, it’s like they’re saying “I want whatever You have for me, God. I want your Spirit; I want to do Your will.” Think about it-when you hold out your hands, palm-up, it means you’re receiving whatever someone is giving you.
And when you see someone with arms raised and reaching out, they’re showing their dependence and hunger for God, like a baby who lifts her arms towards her parents-the baby is trying to say, “Pick me up, hold me.”
Straight From The Source: Psalm 134:2, 1 Timothy 2:8
“Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord.”
“I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.”
Thank you … May seem like a silly question, but as a new Christian who came from a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT type of worship – I wanted an answer. Thank you.
You’re welcome, Matt!
I would like to know the types of lift up the hands in christian worship eg. strech or open or close or with the palms open or close etc. I understand that some others religion using their hands in adoration to their Gods.
God bless you
Eduardo
OOOHHHH… I am still learning and I always thought it looked a little silly, almost like “Look at me, I can sing louder and pray better than you. And look, I can raise my hands up real high so everyone can see just how much more connected I am to God than you.” Television evangelism has made so many legitimately great worship gestures look hokie and exaggerated.
I see it differently now. Thanks!
Lifting of the hands is a natural expression of praise. We do it at baseball games, when a runner is winning a race, a baby does it when it is excited…. My 3 yr old recently lifted up his hands after we sang happy birthday to him and said “yea!” Problem is it has been mocked an abused by hypocrites, and those who do not know about it. Many people are great with praising their team, but when it comes to praising God; they fall silent. Because I have been on both sides of the arguement; I want to encourage anyone and everyone who loves Jesus to spend some time getting excited and loving God privately, by lifting hands in worship to Him. We are victorious thru Him and He deserves our praise- Not the football players! (even if they are good, no one is as good as God)
I’m sorry if I’m butting in but, I must comment on this topic…I saw that new Christians were responding to this post and I wanted to provide my insight. Don’t raise your hands in worship just because other Christians are doing so. We have liberty to worship in any posture that we feel is reverent and honoring to our God. As far as I know, there is only one verse in the New Testament that talks about lifting “holy hands”. That verse was described above in the post… 1st. Timothy 2:8. In context it was telling men to lift holy hands as compared to men fighting with each other. Holy hands are hands set apart for God’s work. This calls all Christian men to quit fighting and dedicate your hands to God’s work. It’s funny how most people use this verse as a prescription for hand raising during the singing portion of worship and failed to look at the rest of the verses as they go on to say how a woman should act/convey oneself in worship services or teaching. The lifting of holy hands in this context were relegated to the men. There are many more of other examples of lifting of hands in the Old Testament. They aren’t prescriptive however they are descriptive. They show us how people in that time and that culture worshiped God. Furthermore, there are many other postures that modern-day evangelical Christians don’t use regularly in worship services. We don’t seem to see a regular occurrence of other postures such as, people face down prostrate, on their knees ect. And culturally speaking it’s probably not okay for us to tare our clothes off in a worship service. At least I hope not! Worship is about our hearts being thankful to the God that has saved us. If that causes you to raise your hands, then do that. If it causes you to get down on your face, then do that. If it causes you to reverently stand, head bowed, hands folded in front of you, then do that. Sorry for the rant! It just seems like there so much emphasis on raising hands and I wonder how much of it is done in true worship or because we think we have to do it to worship. May God bless you all!