The church has a mandate to pray by lifting holy hands to God. It is an act of worship when we lift our hands and seek him. We have a responsibility as individuals and as a church to do this. When we pray and worship God brings the church closer together. Seek his face in prayer today.
1 Timothy 2:8
“I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;”
A Call to Passionate Prayer
You can’t underestimate the importance of prayer in the church. Paul calls out the men of the church and expresses his desire that they pray. Prayer is one of the things that make men most uncomfortable. Talking out loud to a God you can’t see? No thanks. Yet Paul not only calls them to prayer but passionate prayer. He wants them to lift their hands towards God and seek His face.
Desperately Seeking God
Raising hands accomplishes two things. First, it signifies surrender to God and shows Him that we desperately need him. Second, it shows how deep our desire is for him. Just as a baby reaches her hands towards her father for him to pick her up and hold her, so do we when we reach towards Him. James 4:7 says “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” That is not a prayer that is just going through the motions, that is one that is desperately seeking God.
Go Make Things Right
Paul also tells us that we should pray without anger and quarreling. So many times we come to God when we have unresolved issues with others. We are angry with them or in some disagreement. We need to stop praying and go and make things right, and then come back and offer our offering of praise and prayer. Infighting in a church can split and fracture a good work that God is doing. Make prayer a priority in your personal life and your church.