Did you know that your hands are drooping?

"Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,  and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed."

Have you ever been to a worship service where the worship leader instructed everyone to raise their hands to heaven, but then he never tells you to put them down? Or a prayer meeting where you're told to stretch out your hands towards someone in need, and then the prayer goes on and on and on so that you arms feel like they are going to drop off? Outstretched hands are a sign of dependence and supplication, but it is difficult to maintain that posture.

In Exodus 17 the army of Israel goes out to fight against the Amalekites. Moses stands on a nearby mountain watching and praying. Whenever he lifts his staff to heaven, Israel prevailed, but when he lowers his arm the Amalekites had the upper hand (no pun intended). Finally Aaron and Hur move a stone over and allow Moses to sit down and the two of them hold up his arm until the Amalekites are finally vanquished.

When you are undergoing discipline or fighting a war with your version of Amalekites, drooping hands are a problem. Heb 12:12 says to "lift your drooping hands". You and I are not going to make it through this season of discipline with drooping hands. We need to pray. Pray what? Declare our dependence on God. After Israel had defeated the Amalekites they had a memorial service where Moses says the oddest thing. He says "A hand upon the throne of God". No explanation, just that short phrase. I imagine that Moses was completely exhausted and had only enough energy left for one sentence, not even a full sentence at that, just a phrase panted out from an exhausted man - "a hand upon the throne of God". What did he mean? During the battle his outstretched hand was touching the throne of God. I'm not sure how many of my prayers make it past the ceiling, but his hand touched the throne of God. So he entitles this memorial, this victory "a hand upon the throne of God".

It is also good to note that Moses had some help. He didn't struggle against weariness and drooping hands by himself. Aaron and Hur helped him. Who are my Aaron and Hur? It is obvious that I need them. I'm thinking of 2 men who I will ask to pray with me on a weekly basis.

Undergoing discipline or hardship? Step up your prayer life. Lift up your drooping hands.