More and more often, I find myself putting my hands in front of me, palms up and open. It is a kinesthetic reminder to myself to live with open hands. When God first talked to me about open hands, He used them in the context of loving other people. Since then, He has shown me that living with open hands is His way.
Psalm 145 says: The Lord always keeps His promises, He is gracious in all He does. The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all look to You in hope; You give them their food as they need it. When You open Your hand, You satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. Living with open hands is God's way. He loves us and provides for us with open hands. (See the first "open hands" blog for more.)
The other day, while I ran, God talked with me about forgiving with open hands. Forgiving and letting go. The Bible is filled with admonitions to forgive others just as God forgave us. If we refuse to forgive, we become obsessed with our hurts. As we cling to our hurts, they begin to possess us. Please believe me, as hard as it can be to forgive, especially when our hurts become a part of us, it is worth it! Forgiveness gives us freedom to live with open hands!
Open hands can receive from God and from the people in our lives. I can't imagine taking a cup of coffee offered to me by my husband with closed hands...nearly impossible! Only my open hands can receive the gifts offered to my by those who love me. Only my open hands can receive the gifts offered to me by the God who loves me.
Open hands are in position for prayer. The book of Acts records numerous times when the disciples prayed for people and laid hands on them...open hands required. The Psalms and Paul's letters to Timothy suggest prayer to God with hands lifted up to Him...open hands. I often pray with my hands folded together, but now they will be open. Open to worship, pray, and receive.
As much as I would love to be able to say that I live with open hands, it is not my human state. It is hard for me to let go. Fear says letting go will lead to hurt and abandonment. Well, fear is a liar. Fear comes from the devil. (I've written many blogs about my battle and victory over fear, but that doesn't mean that the devil doesn't keep trying to paralyze me with it!)
The bottom line for me is trust in God. Do I trust Him with my family, my friends, my future, my hurts, my heart...so that I can open my hands and stop clinging? That's a hard question and one I must ask myself daily, sometimes hourly. Trusting God requires knowing God and knowing that He is trustworthy. Trusting God requires spending time with Him. I'm building trust so that I can live with open hands.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.