Psalm 28:2 - And the baby said, "Up!"

One may lift their hands to bless others, or even bless and worship God. Hands may be lifted to ask God for forgiveness, to cleanse the hand's actions or the heart's motives.

Another reason to raise one's hands to God is to ask for help.

David wrote, "Listen to my prayer for mercy as I cry out to you for help, as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary." (Psalm 28:2, New Living Translation, 2015)

Imagine a beggar, sitting on the side of a road or a sidewalk, desperately holding up a hand or a hat for a few coins. Many times people begged Jesus for healing. It's easy to picture them raising their hands as well, imploring Him for help.

The people of God have known this intense supplication for thousands of years. 

Another psalmist wrote,
"My eyes are blinded by my tears. Each day I beg for your help, O Lord; I lift my hands to you for mercy." (Psalm 88:9, NLT)

One doesn't have to get out of bed at night to lift one's hands in prayer.
"When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven..." (Psalm 77:2, NLT. Cp. bedtime praise, Psalm 149:5) 

Jeremiah wrote,
"Rise during the night and cry out. Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord. Lift up your hands to him in prayer..." (Lamentations 2:19, NLT)

My granddaughter's current vocabulary is limited. Imprisoned in a crib or high chair, she'll lift her hands to mom or dad and say, "Up!" What else can you do when you're stuck?

But sometimes, she extends her hands upward, simply wanting to be held.

Lord God,

It may be during the day. It may be at night as I'm trying to fall asleep. Or fall back to sleep. You know when I'm in desperate need, or troubled to  the point of distraction. And sometimes, I just need to be held.

Then my prayer is: "Up!"

Amen.

The photo is a still shot from the documentary, "The Cross--Jesus in China." The woman is a well-known hymn writer, Xiao Min. Every dawn she gets up to lift her hands in prayer for her home country.