SteemChurch: Let's raise our hands.

Surely, we have seen some scene in our life where people, army, among others decide to surrender in front of another one showing with hands raised, in sign of peace and surrender. Something similar happens when we pray. God invites us to come to his presence with hands raised, surrendered before Him and with a heart willing to learn and be examined. Perhaps we discover, as the passage of 1 Timothy teaches, that behind our calm appearance or a docile temperament, there is hidden in us an attitude of anger or strife.

1 Timothy 2: 8 I therefore want men to pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without anger or strife.

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Let's think that God is mounting a great spiritual operation on our lives. There may be something in our hearts that needs to be discovered, as it may be an anger, a strife with some person, an unresolved estrangement, but the Lord always seeks restoration over punishment or guilt. He desires our true freedom.

The goal of God does not seek to accuse us, but rather to bring it to light, through the
prayer and looking at us in the mirror of His Word, the hidden aspects of our hearts that may be blocking our spiritual progress (Hebrews 4:12).

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword; and penetrates to split the soul and the spirit, the joints and the marrow, and discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Perhaps some people consider that their life is irreproachable, that they have done no harm to anyone and that they follow the principles of God. But we can follow the example of King David's humility, and go to God's presence to say: "Examine me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts; And see if there is a perverse way in me, and guide me in the eternal way "(Psalm 139: 23-24). The goal of God seeks, ultimately, the improvement in our Christian walk, to be transformed every day to the image of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).

2 Corinthians 3:18 Therefore, we all, looking with unveiled face as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed from glory to glory in the same image, as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Each of us has the need to surrender before God. Psalm 139 begins with David's acknowledgment of God's ability to examine and know him, culminating with the request that he continue to search his heart, thoughts and path. In the middle of these two moments, the psalmist marvels at the love of God, manifested even from the womb of his mother, when no other knew him but Him. That same knowledge and love is what the Lord offers to each one. of us His children; and we pray always so that we have that confidence to let us go through His fatherly gaze, which seeks to free us from what prevents us from growing. No one can have freedom with chained hands; That is why the Lord calls us to raise our hands and let go in that act of surrender the resentments and anger that have held us back for years. The Lord seeks surrendered hearts, worshipers who are willing to allow themselves to be examined, trusting in His unconditional love.

Psalm 139: 1 Oh LORD, you have examined me and known me.

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The Lord calls us to approach him in prayer, with a surrendered heart, knowing that we can not hide anything from him, but above all things, that his love covers the totality of our faults (Proverbs 10:12) and heals the memories that we They continue to hold in spite and enmity with others. Our God is a God of peace and we are responsible for maintaining that same peace with everyone.

Proverbs 10:12 Hatred awakens quarrels; But love will cover all the fouls.

The prayer that transforms is that in which we give place to the Holy Spirit to illuminate the soul, including confession and repentance. As David did, we prayed in that same direction: "Father, examine my heart. I surrender my life completely to you and raise my hands as a sign of love to you."