Stretch Out Your Hand

 When was the last time you physically stretched? Maybe, it was earlier, yesterday, or longer than that. Stretching daily is good for our bodies 😊. It releases tension and stress, allows us to be more flexible, and keeps our muscles from getting stiff among other benefits. Stretching involves action and movement. When we stretch out our hand, we can either take something or push something away. Not everything belongs to us. We have to be careful what we hold on to. Unforgiveness, complaining, negativity, and people pleasing should not be held on to. Compromising who you are and lowering your standards should not be held on to. These things need to be pushed away. Yes, they can be tempting to hold on to, but we have to ask God daily to help us not hold on to these. Let's hold on to the good and what's healthy 💚. I'm reminded of a story in the Bible found in Matthew 12:9-14 where a man stretched out his hand. A man had a withered hand in the church that Jesus is at. Jesus tells the man to stretch out his hand. The man stretched out his hand and it was restored just like his other hand. Just like that, he was healed! Notice the action...he stretched out his hand. Stretching is an action. The man got a change when he stretched out his hand. I know his life was never the same 💚!! When we lift up both our hands, it is a sign of surrender and release. We need to be open to God's plan for our life. We need to be open to give our day to God and know whatever that day holds, God's got us. We need to be open to release anything or anybody not for us. We need to give God our concerns and needs daily and as often as we need to in the day. In the Bible story mentioned earlier, the man stretched out his hand and it was healed. We have to stretch out our hand to receive what will benefit us and not harm us. I'm reminded of another story in the Bible where someone else stretched out his hand...Moses. In Exodus 14:15-31, we find God's people, the Israelites, were leaving Egypt to escape the Egyptians. They encounter the Red Sea and have to cross it. Moses is given the instruction by God in verse 21 of Exodus 14 to stretch out his hand over the sea, so the sea could turn into dry land. God worked a miracle and the Israelites were able to walk through 😊!! Now, later on in verse 26 of Exodus 14, Moses is instructed once again by God to stretch out his hand again. This time when he stretches out his hand, the water would come back on the Egyptians and drown them. God was not playing about his people, just like He does not play about those of us who are his children today. Moses did the same action both times, but there were two different outcomes- one of victory and one of loss. Both are powerful!! So, we have a choice when we stretch out our hand....we can either pull something to us or push something away. Let's choose wisely what we receive and what we release daily😊. Remember both are powerful! Let's choose the good and push away the wrong. May God continue to bless you!