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Waiting for a Hand Out

Thursday, 22 January 2009, 9:35 (EST)
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Handshaking began among ancient German duelists as a signal of peaceful intentions. They couldn’t draw swords with outstretched hands. An open hand signified friendship. A closed hand may signal a closed heart and a closed fist greed and selfishness.

Let’s make this the year of the open hand. Ask yourself, “What is in my hand that I am unwilling to give up?” Are your fingers open, stretched upward, releasing everything to God and ready to receive all He wants to give you? Or are you grasping onto life with a death-grip?

A trapper devised a monkey-trap using a hollow gourd into which peanuts were poured through a small hole. The monkey would reach in and grab the peanuts, but the hole was too small to remove his closed hand. Unwilling to release his treasure, the monkey was caught.

What are you tightly grasping . . . unwilling to give to the Lord? A relationship, possession, plan? An attitude of bitterness? Perhaps God isn’t able to bless you because your hand isn’t open to receive.

Are you burdened by a difficult problem in your life? Open your hands and turn it over to the Lord. Give it to Him—all your fears, worries, anxiety. Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you.

Give Him those sins that you can’t seem to beat. Confess them, and ask Him to forgive and cleanse you. Give Him those precious things that you’re clutching. An open hand signifies willingness—your willingness to part with your struggles, yourself, your sins.

Generosity
An open hand also signifies generosity. The wise woman in Proverbs 31 “opens her hand to the poor” (RSV).

One of my greatest childhood memories involves something my mother did every Saturday night. She got out all the bills and put them on the table. Then she opened the checkbook, and the first check she wrote was always to the church. I watched her week after week give the firstfruits to the Lord.

Will your children have similar memories? Spiritual giving begins in the heart with “I want to.” It’s translated to the head where it says, “I will.” Then it opens the hand and says, “I’m doing it.” This open-handedness can begin with your very next act of obedience and service. Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind . . . not reluctantly . . . for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7 Amplified Bible).

Receptivity
It’s hard to receive a gift when your hands are closed. God’s hands are open: “You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” The most graphic example of open hands was Jesus on the crossbeam of Calvary to receive the nails that affixed Him there for us. It is His nature to give with open, nail-pierced hands.

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Mathew 7:11

What does God want to give you that He can’t because your hands are closed? Open your hands so He can bless you. What could you be giving God? Open hands signify endless possibilities; closed hands equal no possibilities.

Remember the woman whose hands—and heart—were ready to open themselves toward Jesus. And Jesus was ready to abundantly give. “Whoever drinks the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life,” He said (John 4).

The woman replied, “Sir, give me this water.”

The Lord wants to give us more peace, love for Him and others, patience, joy, and self-control. He longs to give you a new start in humility, generosity, and receptivity. But He is waiting for a hand out. Just say, “Lord, I can’t open my hands by myself, but with Your help I’m willing to stretch out my fingers toward You.”

Source: Dr David Jeremiah
On the Web: www.DavidJeremiah.org


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