Lifting Up

DEVOTION
1 TIMOHTY
LIFTING UP
1 Tim 2:8
8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.
NIV
If there was ever any doubt this surely ought to put an end to it. Of course at this point in my life I have no doubts. God desires that all men lift up holy hands in prayer. This would have to mean as he has already stated he desires all men to be saved. Now if all were saved they could then lift up their holy hands. I certainly cannot do that while I am driving, but I am absolutely involved in this activity during the time of worship with my fellow believers. I cannot understand how anyone can sit on their hands while supposedly singing and praising God. How can I not raise my hands? How can I not lift up my hands toward the Almighty God in worship and adoration? Now I suppose if it would be difficult to lift my hands toward God is I am in the midst of being disobedient experiencing some sort of anger toward a fellow believer or involved in some kind of dispute or disagreement about a particular issue. If I am so upset over how someone has either done or not done something I think they should have or not should have how can I stand in prayer lifting up my unholy hands toward God? No, I am convinced all that nonsense is irrelevant to my having to worship him in prayer. I have to put everything aside, all feelings that might even ever be considered in any form anger or disputing in order to truly lift up my holy hands unto my Lord and King. Forgiveness of all and everything has to be within my mind and spirit. A pure heart free from thoughts regarding any offense toward me, or even by me which resulted in dispute or anger on the part of another must be within in order to lift up my holy hands. Seeking forgiveness for those offenses I caused must also be immediately resolved in order for both me and the other to be able to lift up holy hands. If I am the cause for someone to experience anger or dispute toward to with me I am in disobedience as well. This is not an easy task for I am thinking it requires a totally non selfish attitude. I cannot be concerned about how I feel that my feelings might be hurt. I think selfishness is the root cause for this anger and disputing. I also think maybe, just maybe selfishness might be one of the reasons, of not the reason holy hands are not lifted up. Maybe people feel embarrassed lifting their hands. Maybe people think it looks funny, or maybe they just are not willing to set aside self in order to be obedient in lifting up their holy hands in prayer and worship of almighty God. I cannot judge what the reason is for others, but I can surely judge my own reasons and I cannot find any worthy excuse not to lift my holy hands toward God in prayer.