Topical Bible: Prayer is Described as Lifting up the Heart

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Topical Encyclopedia

Prayer, a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith, is often described as the act of lifting up one's heart to God. This metaphorical expression captures the essence of prayer as an intimate and heartfelt communication with the Divine. The concept of lifting up the heart in prayer is deeply rooted in Scripture and reflects a posture of humility, dependence, and devotion.

Biblical Foundations

The idea of lifting up the heart in prayer is woven throughout the Bible, emphasizing the importance of sincerity and earnestness in one's relationship with God. In Lamentations 3:41, the prophet Jeremiah exhorts, "Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven." This verse underscores the dual action of raising both heart and hands, symbolizing a complete offering of oneself to God.

Similarly, in Psalm 25:1, David declares, "To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul." Here, the lifting of the soul is synonymous with lifting the heart, indicating a deep yearning for God's presence and guidance. This act of lifting up the heart is not merely a physical gesture but a spiritual elevation, where the believer seeks to align their innermost being with the will of God.

Theological Significance

Lifting up the heart in prayer signifies a movement away from earthly concerns and towards a heavenly focus. It is an acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and a recognition of human dependence on His grace and mercy. This posture of prayer is characterized by humility, as the believer approaches God with a contrite and open heart, ready to receive His wisdom and direction.

In Philippians 4:6-7, the Apostle Paul encourages believers to present their requests to God with thanksgiving, promising that "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." This passage highlights the transformative power of prayer, where lifting up the heart leads to divine peace and protection.

Practical Application

For Christians, lifting up the heart in prayer is a daily practice that fosters spiritual growth and intimacy with God. It involves setting aside distractions and focusing one's thoughts and emotions on the Lord. This can be done through personal prayer, communal worship, or meditative reflection on Scripture.

The act of lifting up the heart is also a reminder of the importance of sincerity in prayer. As Jesus taught in Matthew 6:6, "But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." This instruction emphasizes the value of private, heartfelt prayer over public displays of piety.

Conclusion

While the Bible does not explicitly use the phrase "lifting up the heart" in every context of prayer, the concept is implicit in the attitudes and actions of those who seek God earnestly. Through lifting up the heart, believers express their devotion, seek divine guidance, and experience the peace that comes from communion with the Creator.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Lamentations 3:41
Let us lift up our heart with our hands to God in the heavens.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Nature and Value of Prayer, and How the Heart Should be ...
... 1 Thessalonians 17) and, Pray in every place lifting up pure hands ... it is doing, it
will be pure and sincere prayer. ... time in the way we have described from the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/albert/on cleaving to god/chapter 13 the nature and.htm

What Life May be Made
... when they are cast down, thou shalt say, Lifting up.' That is an exclamation or
a prayer, and we ... Even in so blessed a life as has been described, times will ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/what life may be made.htm

Formalities of Prayer: Conclusion
... the Psalms where it stands thus"the lifting up of my ... knees, since their bodies have
been described possibly as ... And last of all, one should bring prayer to an ...
/.../origen/origen on prayer/chapter xx formalities of prayer .htm

What God Will do for Us
... God-knowing and God-loving heart, which was described in the ... call upon Me,' and that
part of his prayer 'I will ... The word here means lifting up out of a pit, or ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/what god will do for.htm

The Security of Contemplatives Lies in their not Ascending to High ...
... wrought in it by our Lord,"may nevertheless succeed, by lifting up the spirit ... as
we see He does in the states of prayer already described,"it is ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/chapter xxii the security of.htm

Of Prayer
... This confirmed by the form of lifting the hand in prayer ... Lord's Prayer divided into
six petitions ... Answer, from the nature of God, as described by an apostle, the ...
/.../calvin/of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/of prayer.htm

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
... Matt.6:1-15. 1. In the preceding chapter our Lord has described inward religion
in its various branches. ... Prayer is the lifting up of the heart to God: All ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 26 upon our lords.htm

A Serious Persuasive to Such a Method of Spending Our Days as is ...
... say, whether such a life as I have described above be ... of my works.' (Amos 8:7) Let
my prayer come before thee as incense,' add let the lifting up of my ...
/.../chapter xx a serious persuasive.htm

A Sermon for the Time Present
... yea, if we are importunate in prayer it must ... Christ's gospel, and win souls." One
lifting up of Jesus ... Jehovah, the living God, is described as brooding over ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 33 1887/a sermon for the time.htm

Quenching the Spirit.
... had evidently quenched the Spirit in the manner just described. ... drawn many times
a day to secret prayer, and should be continually lifting up our hearts ...
/.../finney/sermons on gospel themes/xv quenching the spirit.htm