CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 693

“Strengthened Hands”

NEH 6:9 (ESV) For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

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Have you ever given thought to the marvelous wonder of God’s creation our hands are? Indeed, we ourselves are referred to as the ‘work of God’s hands.’ References to ‘hands’ occur over 400 times in the Bible being involved in everything from evil and idol worship to blessing and praising God.

With our upraised hands we give praise to God. Sometimes life circumstances dampen our desire to praise God. We begin to question His love and whether or not He answers prayer. We feel the tendency to withdraw from His church community of believers and find our own way apart from Him. The battle was being lost when Moses’ arms grew tired and he could no longer keep them upraised. Through Aaron and Hur coming alongside and holding up his arms the battle turned and was ultimately won by the Israelites. When you feel you cannot hold upraised hands in praise to God is precisely the time you need to draw nearer to Him and to your family in His church. It is in His presence that your hands will be strengthened to get through your difficult circumstances.

…But now, O God, strengthen my hands…to praise you

With our hands we care for the elderly and the young alike. Millions of us in the coming years will have gone from raising children to finding ourselves as caregivers once again for our elderly parents. The financial and emotional strain takes a heavy toll and we need the grace and power of God’s presence to persevere through in fulfilling this ministry.

…But now, O God, strengthen my hands…to care for those in need to your glory.

With our hands we wage war, and bandage the injured. The fight for freedom persists throughout the world. The fight against those who intend to do us harm seems never ending and will continue until the Lord returns for His church.

…But now, O God, strengthen my hands…for battle.

With our hands we perform our daily work, and receive our wages. With these same hands we open them up to bring our tithes and offerings and to give to those in need. It is easy to fall into the trap of gripping the material of this world too tightly. Our trust becomes misplaced and the work and fruit of our hands can become an idol. Pray for the integrity of a heart after God that your hands can not only receive but also hold loosely to the temporal things of this world.

…But now, O God, strengthen my hands…to be a faithful steward of your provision.

With our hands we cast our ballots in the exercise of democracy and freedom. These same hands sign petitions in support of religious freedom and the rights of the oppressed and persecuted. Our hands are a tool under the direction of our heart. We need the integrity of hearts that seek after God for our hands to be tools guided by His Holy Spirit. Our hands must never tire or rest from the work they are called to do in the Lord’s kingdom.

…But now, O God, strengthen my hands…to lift your banner high in this nation.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God