#Repost @jsthomae ・・・ EMBODIED :: POSTURES OF PRAYER & PRAISE, WEEK 3, PALMS UP Postures of Prayer & Praise are “outer representations of an inner reality” Exploring: Hands Extended Palms up – Receiving Ezra 9:5-6 – Then, at the evening sacrifice, I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the LORD my God and prayed: “O my God, I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to you, my God, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens.” Ezra is asking for grace and mercy from God. Verse 5a indicates that he is in mourning because of his sin. As we seek forgiveness, we receive forgiveness from God. With palms open before the Lord, we can fully expect to receive what God so lavishly pours out upon his people. We can also receive from others by allowing them to be the hands and feet of Christ when we are in need. I Peter 5:7 – Cast all your cares upon him because he cares for you. When someone offers us a gift, we open our palms and extend our hands in order to receive the gift they offer. We can’t receive a gift with clenched hands—we must open in order to receive. As we cast our cares upon Jesus, we empty our hands so they are open to receive strength out of the glorious riches by the power of the Holy Spirit (Eph 3:16). Psalm 141:2 – May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. As we lay (set) down those things that God has asked us to give up, it frees our hands to lift them up again in worship—hands that are empty. Not worshiping because of what He’s done, but simply because He is worthy of our praise. As we let go, we are free to worship without worldly hindrance. #embodied #EmbodiedPrayer #WorshipDance #posturesprayerpraise #godscreativegift #wholebodyworship #yogafaith #jesusfirstyogasecond