Put Up Your Hands

I shared briefly this past Sunday at iYOUth my struggle with "raising hands."
The truth is, it ran deeper than that. I didn't like anything about Praise and Worship. The whole process of people standing, crying, at times singing their own words, or praying during songs made me anxious. My Praise and Worship time was best spent in the hallways or the restroom.
Not too long ago I was the one that "missed the feeling." And it's true, the problem wasn't God, the problem was me. I would look at these people around me who were glorifying God with their bodies and voices and think "this is an act" or "they look ridiculous". I knew if I did the same thing, others would look at me that way.
A couple of years back I faced a rough time in my life and by this time I was participating a little more, occassionally clapping and singing a line or two, but on one particular day The Praise team did the song None but Jesus by Hillsong United

I found myself weeping to these words


When you call I wont refuse
Each new day again I'll choose
There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring him praise

The best way to describe what I was feeling was desperation. I wanted to lift my hands and touch Heaven. In that moment I forgot what was around me because I was choosing Him. It's such a freeing experience to let go and truly worship God.

1 Kings 8:54 ESV
Now as Solomon finished offering all this prayer and plea to the Lord, he arose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had knelt with hands outstretched toward heaven.

Since that time, it's not uncommon for me to raise my hands, whether it be an act of praise or surrender.


Psalm 28:2 ESV
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.


I do think it's an important step inbuiling a strong relationship with God. He wants to see us worshipping Him.
I'd like to encourage you to take that awkward first step and do something for God that you wouldn't normally do.
I want to see this youth group move.