Open Hands

While driving in my car one morning in
Southern California, I needed to reach
over my shoulder and get something that
my daughter was trying to hand to me.
It was then that I noticed my hands had
been tightly clinched to the steering
wheel. In order to “receive” what she was giving
to me, I had to let go and open my clenched hand
(of course, only one hand. After all, I was driving!)
Through this simple transaction God brought a picture
to me of how we are to be walking through our day.

He said to me, “How do you receive?” In an instant,
a picture of open hands stretched out appeared in
my mind. How do you receive a present, a hug, a
sweet picture drawn by a child? We do that with
open hands stretched out. That is how we receive.

Now what if our hands are clenched so tight,
desperately holding on to whatever it is in
life that we haven’t let go of. Are you holding
onto a grudge, a hurt, or bitterness? Are you
holding onto your past? What about material
possessions, money, your position in a career?
When God offers to us the mercy, the strength,
the forgiveness, are we able to accept it? Not
if our hands are already full of stuff. Do we
trust that what He has to offer is better than
what we have clenched in our grips?

Handing over our worries, cares and treasures
to Him is the way to receive His gifts. Do you
trust Him, do you love Him? Do you really? Do
you know that what He has to give far outweighs
what we are holding in our flesh? It is through
Him alone that we receive what we need. He is
our Source. In Isaiah 58 the Lord declares,
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither
are your ways My ways.” Letting (fill in your
own blank) go and giving it away to God shows
that we love Him, that we depend on Him, that
we trust Him. “Trust in the LORD forever, for
the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.”
Isaiah 26:4

Zsanae