I always try to tweet and post scientific research that confirms what the Bible already says. It happens often. For many years in the 20th Century historians denied the existence of the Hittites from the Bible. Then further evidence confirmed they did exist at the same time as the Bible describes. There was also the question of King Belshazzar in Daniel 5 who historians denied ever ruled in Babylon. Once again, further evidence proved he was indeed co-regent with his father for several years at the time the Bible describes. On and on the once thought “miscues” of scripture are to be found true with external support.
It is no wonder then when my wife stumbled upon this TED talk entitled, “Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are” that yet again the Bible’s eternally revealed truths prove accurate. I will summarize the main point of the video: lifting your arms in confidence rather than shrinking into a cowering position positively affects the hormones related to confidence and stress. What such scientific discoveries are telling us is that the Bible’s command to lift up hands is proven to be the best thing for your success and vitality.
In our worship experience at Waters, you will hear one of our lead singers often tell the people to lift up their hands. I can feel the hesitancy from some. They don’t come from “that kind of church” or they feel self-conscious or fearful of what others will think. But every sporting event has hands raised. Concerts have adoring fans with hands raised. Why not us??? God’s Word tells His Church to raise those hands in the air and just not care for good reason!
Consider the following passages:
Psalm 63:4–5 (ESV) So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips
Psalm 134:2 (ESV) Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD!
1 Timothy 2:8 (ESV) I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;
Hebrews 12:12 (ESV) Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,
Imagine that. God wants you to succeed and even gave us advice on how to do it! Lift up those hands! One time Moses was commanded to keep his hands raised as Joshua fought the Amalekites. As long as Moses’ hands were up, Israel prevailed, when they drooped, Israel struggled. He even asked friends to hold them up for him as the weight became to much for him to bear (see Exodus 17).
I bring this up because right now many of you will watch the TED talk and realize how you should probably practice this very beneficial habit for your own life. I know I did! It reminds me of how fasting (one of the most disregarded spiritual practices in the Church) is scientifically proven to bring health and vitality to your mind and body through natural detoxing. Once science confirms it, we may be more apt to do it.
My question is: Why not trust God first? Why should I wait for science to tell me that God was right all along and the Bible is true? My Heavenly Father loves me in a way that no one else does. He loves me perfectly and there is nothing He will not tell me in His word that will not benefit my life before Him. My encouragement to you in this post is simply this: Let God’s Word be enough. Go to eat, read it, feed on it! Eventually someone else will prove that you should have already. Read it, do it and get leg up (& hand up)… in life.
