Topical Bible: Prayer is Described as Lifting up the Soul

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Prayer, a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith, is often described in Scripture as the act of lifting up one's soul to God. This imagery conveys a sense of elevation, intimacy, and surrender, reflecting the believer's desire to connect with the divine. The concept of lifting up the soul in prayer is rooted in the understanding that prayer is not merely a ritualistic practice but a heartfelt communication with God.

The phrase "lifting up the soul" is notably found in Psalm 25:1, where David declares, "To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul." . This expression signifies a deep yearning for God's presence and guidance. It suggests that prayer involves the whole being, encompassing emotions, thoughts, and desires, as the believer seeks to align themselves with God's will.

In the context of prayer, lifting up the soul implies a posture of humility and dependence on God. It acknowledges human limitations and the need for divine intervention. Psalm 86:4 further illustrates this, as David prays, "Bring joy to Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul." . Here, the act of lifting up the soul is associated with seeking joy and fulfillment in God's presence, recognizing Him as the source of true contentment.

The imagery of lifting up the soul also conveys a sense of trust and confidence in God's character. In Psalm 143:8, the psalmist expresses, "Let me hear Your loving devotion in the morning, for I have put my trust in You. Teach me the way I should walk, for to You I lift up my soul." . This verse highlights the believer's reliance on God's steadfast love and guidance, emphasizing that prayer is an act of faith.

Moreover, lifting up the soul in prayer is an expression of worship and adoration. It involves acknowledging God's sovereignty and majesty, as seen in Psalm 63:4, "So I will bless You as long as I live; in Your name I will lift up my hands." . While this verse specifically mentions lifting hands, it parallels the concept of lifting the soul, as both gestures symbolize reverence and devotion.

The New Testament also reflects the idea of lifting up the soul in prayer through the teachings of Jesus. In Matthew 6:9-13, the Lord's Prayer exemplifies a model of prayer that elevates the soul by focusing on God's holiness, kingdom, and will. Jesus instructs His followers to approach God with a heart of worship, dependence, and submission, embodying the essence of lifting up the soul.

In summary, prayer as lifting up the soul is a profound biblical concept that encompasses worship, trust, humility, and a deep longing for communion with God. It is an invitation for believers to engage in a transformative relationship with their Creator, where the soul is elevated and aligned with His divine purposes.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 25:1
To you, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Formalities of Prayer: Conclusion
... the Psalms where it stands thus"the lifting up of my ... us to retire to pay our debt
of prayer, we may ... knees, since their bodies have been described possibly as ...
/.../origen/origen on prayer/chapter xx formalities of prayer .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

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

The Poison and the Antidote
... outside the territory of Edom, is described as a ... seems to anticipate that, after
the prayer had been ... Secondly, Jesus laid stress on the 'lifting up' of the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the poison and the antidote.htm

How Throughout all the East the Services of Tierce, Sext, and None ...
... which is sung by David: "Let my prayer be set ... the Cross is quite correctly called
a "lifting up." For when ... For thus also is he described as having hired them ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter iii how throughout all.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

Oracles on the Edge of Doom. (vii. 16-xviii Passim, xxii, Xlv. )
... 598.(420) The invasion is more probably described as actual ... to that which Hosea heard
to the prayer of his ... the land to which they shall be lifting up their soul ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/3 oracles on the edge.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

The Case of the Christian under the Hiding of God's Face.
... face to shine upon a person, or lifting up upon him ... Give me leave, therefore, having
thus described it, to ... been breathed out before God in prayer, the burden ...
/.../the rise and progress of religion in the soul/chapter xxiv the case of.htm

Of the Necessity of Divine Influences to Produce Regeneration in ...
... cause and the effect, as between Moses lifting up his rod ... men's minds as we have
before described; which plainly ... and many more, which occur in prayer, when it ...
/.../practical discourses on regeneration/discourse vii of the necessity.htm