Praise is so powerful. And, I’m not talking about using it as a tool of manipulation to get God to bless us, but I’m talking about a powerful way to BLESS HIM.
Psalm 34:1 (NKJV)
I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Yes, God wants to be blessed by us, just as much as we want to be blessed by Him. How can you bless God who has all power, possesses all things and has control of all things? The same way a baby blesses a parent when he or she reaches up to them.
Why does a baby reach up to his or her parent?
To get their attention…
To be picked up…
To be hugged…
God wants our affection. Our affection is a blessing to Him. Every parent wants to be ‘loved on’ by their children.
There are few things more affectionate, more intimate, more touching, more empowering, than a well-timed hug.
Have you ever had someone give you a warm affectionate hug? Without saying one word that sincere hug said “I love you!” “I’m so glad you’re in my life!” “I appreciate you!”
A hug is a beautiful way of saying that “We are one”.
Yes, we praise God with the fruit of our lips.
Yes, we praise God in a song.
Yes, we praise God through beautiful music.
Yes, we can even praise Him with a dance…
But, there is something special about lifting our hands up to Him in praise.
Lifting up our hands (just like that baby) is almost like we’re waving to get God’s attention, “Lord! Here I am! See me!?!”
Lifting up our hands is an act of surrender and letting go of what we are holding to reach out to Him.
Lifting up our hands is stretching them forward, just as our Lord, Yeshua Jesus Christ had His hands extended and stretched when He was nailed to the cross.
Lifting up our hands toward God is an expression of affection.
Our God so big that we can’t get our arms around Him, so it’s our way of giving Him a holy hug.
If we are alone it’s an intimate personal hug. If we are in corporate worship, it’s a powerful group hug.
So take some time today to love on our Heavenly Father. Lift up your hands to Him and bless Him with a Holy hug!
Look at how we are encouraged to let go of all wrath and all doubt and lift up our holy hands to the God of our salvation.
1 Timothy 2:8 (NKJV)
I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;
Give God a holy hug!
BE BLESSTIFIED!
BE BLESSTIFIED! 