above us—infinitely above us—the high and holy One who
C. We Must Look Up
1. We must look up in our prayers, as those who speak to one above us—infinitely above us—the high and holy One who inhabits eternity. We must look up as those who expect every good and perfect gift to come from above, from the Father of lights. In prayer, we must look up as those who desire to enter into the holiest and to draw near with a true heart. With an eye of faith, we must look beyond the world and everything in it. We must look beyond the things of time. For what is this world, and all things here below, to one who has learned to place the right value on spiritual blessings in heavenly places through Jesus Christ?
The spirit of a person at death goes upward (Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? - Ecclesiastes 3:21), for it returns to God who gave it. Therefore, as mindful of its origin, it must look upwards in every prayer—towards its God, towards its eternal home—as one whose affections are set on things above, where it has laid up its treasure.
Let us, then, in prayer, lift up our hearts with our hands unto God in the heavens (Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens - Lamentations 3:41. In ancient times, it was customary in some churches for the minister to exhort the congregation to pray by saying, Sursum Corda (Lift up your hearts). Let us likewise say, Unto thee, O Lord, do we lift up our souls.
2. We must look up after our prayers.