How Will You Use Your Hands This Year?

Stepping into this first month of 2021 feels categorically different than other years. It feels different because it is different. Twenty-twenty changed us. The crises we encountered may inspire us to ask, “How does our experience in 2020 affect the posture we take toward 2021?”

I chose that word—“posture”—carefully because I mean it literally. Here’s why. A dear friend of mine, who is also a therapist, taught me about a physical position that is sometimes used with clients in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The simple position is to sit (or stand) with your hands open, palms up, in a position of acceptance toward those things you cannot control. While this is a helpful therapeutic practice, I have adapted it as a helpful position for my faith as well. Whether it be prayer, worship, or work, I want to take a more intentional and accepting position this year. I want to move into 2021 with a more open posture, ready to accept whatever God wants to place in my hands.

As I considered this approach to the New Year, I wondered what God’s Word had to say about our hands. Turns out, the Bible contains quite a few references. Let’s look at a few.

To Serve

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us — yes, establish the work of our hands.” (Psalm 90:17 (NIV)

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2:10 NIV)

No matter what comes our way in 2021, we are always called to serve. God, in his favor, establishes work for our hands. It is not a punishment. Rather, we were “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” I also think it is beautiful that we are God’s handiwork, formed by his very own hands. Whether the stress of 2020 continues or lets up, he alone knew long ago how we were going to serve during this time. Consider who and how you can love others in this coming year.

To Worship

“Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord.” (Ps. 134:2 NIV)

I have no idea what “in person” worship will be like in 2021. There may very well be another time coming when we are unable to gather in corporate worship. Yet regardless of our ability to worship in a church building, we can and should continue our worship practices. Online services, home devotions, walking down a path with worship music in our ears. Onlookers be darned. Raised hands are not a requirement of worship, but there is certainly something about abandoning your typical posture that can shift your body and your heart toward the Lord. If you want to raise your hands in worship while walking down the road, have at it. Worship continues whether there’s a building or not.

To Connect

“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.” (Ps. 73:23 NIV)

“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isa. 41:13 NIV)

Semi-embarrassing admission time: Sometimes I hold hands with God. I don’t mean literally, of course, but I hold my hand out just as though we were walking together. God makes no mistakes in the specifics of his Word. He says he’s with us, and we can use our hands for a physical representation of that promise. We’ve gone on some good walks together that way. Whether you engage with these verses physically or not, the message is that he is right there with us. His grip on you is a reminder of his presence, protection, and provision.

To Fill Needs Generously

“If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.” (Deut. 15:7-8, 11 NIV)

I saved this bit of Scripture for our last thought together because I found these verses to be the most visually poignant of all. The challenges of 2020 have left so many people in need. Financially, physically, emotionally, and mentally. Spiritual needs and the need for friendship. “There will always be poor people in the land,” and this is especially true of our world right now. May we be open-handed and not tight-fisted as we look for the needs we can fill this year.

Remember, good stewards, whatever we have is never really ours, anyway. May we use our open hands to receive and distribute whatever we can in representation of his love.

Anne Rulo is an author, speaker, professional counselor, marriage and family therapist and veteran coach’s wife. She and her husband Tim have two children and are passionate about reaching people for Christ and sharing information on coaching, marriage, family, and mental health. Read more from Anne at www.annerulo.com.

Photograph © Matheus Viana, used with permission