Psalm 141:1-2

O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

In the tabernacle of Moses and the temple of Solomon, part of the plan from God was that there was to always be incense burning on a special incense altar because the burning of the expensive spices was a pleasing scent and offering to the Lord.

I love the idea here that our prayers can be an incense that smells sweet to the Lord. And that my hands lifted to him in worship can be as pleasant as the evening sacrifice. Why is that? I mean, sacrificing a live animal is a much bigger deal in my mind than just raising my hands in the air!

I think because lifting our hands to him signifies surrender. I've never been held at gunpoint but I've seen it a lot on TV - what do you do? Arms up! I give up! I surrender!

When I lift my hands in worship it signifies that I am surrendering my life, my will, even my desires...to his greater purpose and plan. He created us with free will when he didn't have to. I think His greatest pleasure must be when a born-wilful, self-focused, demanding child of His has a change of heart and looks to him with hands upraised, offering their all to him and asking him to be in control. 

Let's all commit to doing that today!