He understands

 I love the scriptures that say how God heard the cries for mercy and for help. In the Psalms it talks about accusing tongues and I can definitely relate to that. I mean, I would imagine we all can. How many times in a day am I mis-understood? How many times in a day am I having to explain myself and still I feel I was not accurately understood. The motives of people are a constant diagnosis, if you will. It always changes and it is never consistent. Recently, Jesus has been so good at reminding me that he hears me. He understands me. He sees my heart. He knows what I mean, he gets it! How refreshing to have Jesus on my side. To recognize he sees what is truly going on within me and gently corrects me when needed. To put it in perspective, ever since he died on the cross, I am seen as righteous because he is my defender. So not only does he understand me, see my motives, and redirect me when needed, but he also defends me!
This being the case, why do I feel more times than not that I must defend myself and explain myself to those others who have the same trouble in their own lives?
Maybe that is a silly question, but it is just what I have been thinking about. There are days when I mess up. I am trying really hard to do the best I can, but somwhere in there miscommunication happens, and I mess up. In those times, I have been convicted at how quickly I want to defend myself although I could just admit, woops, I messed up! Yet, there is something within me that wants to say WAIT, I can explain! In complete transparency, I would also have to admit in those times, it is usually an excuse and/or a time when I shift the blame. Yep, that would be me, Eve. :(
I guess it really all goes back to the beginning. Since brokenness happened in our intimacy with God, a need to explain ourselves, defend ourselves, and blame others has been an epidemic.
But GOOD NEWS....
this does not have to be the end of my story. Yes I am going to bring up the cross and Jesus, but mostly I recognize the choice I have each day now that I am reunited to Jesus, to humble myself.
To admit failure, mistake, or whatever it be, EVEN if I can rightly blame another.
WHy? well, I guess it's because at the end of the day, I stand before God and... he understands.

my hands are up!

Remember how the bad guys used to be caught in movies? The "good guys" would corner them and when all hopes of escape were lost, they would lift their hands up and be taken into custody. That moment of the movie was always the moment of relief and recognition the story had come to an end..and thus...all was well. As I consider what that really means, I realize how this idea of surrender was most likely the worst for the "bad guys." It was a sign of losing and also a sign of consequence. The game was over. They had been caught. Everything from that point seemed bleak. No millions of dollars to take and no longer a chance for all the comfort that came with it. Most importantly they had now lost all control of their lives.
Isn't that interesting? Think about it, loss of control.
We celebrated their loss of control, and they mourned this same loss.
We celebrated because we recognized when they had personal control, it meant danger for everyone else. They mourned because they could no longer make personal decisions, from that point on they had to fully submit to the law. Physically, their futures were now bound with chains.

We have been called to fully submit to God. To surrender control. Lose control. Hands up, all selfish games over.
          But
Surrender and control in the realms of Jesus are different. Another one of those "upside down kingdom" principles.
When we give control to God (commit our ways to the Lord) surrender our will and our control for His will and His control...well we find life. Hands up means more life, more freedom and most importantly its the RECOGNITION that I am NOT in control.

ALL of that to say, I am not in control. Recently in life, in work, in friendships, etc I realize, well that my hands are up. Of course I have done the typical run and "control" till I feel stuck in a corner. But, I finally am having the revelation that its a GOOD thing to be out of control (within the realms of submission to God). I can't do it. everything. anything. I put my hands up and say Jesus  you take control. Jesus you direct my paths. Jesus  you direct my thoughts. Jesus you direct my life. small things. big things. everything.
It makes sense to put my hands up in worship as I recognize this reality. this truth. He is in control, and

it is good.