The Hand of Prayer
By John David Hicks
“Pastor, teach us the essentials of prayer in a simple way so we can remember it, as Jesus taught His disciples.” To this end “the principles of prayer” with the use of the “hand” was developed and used with children and adult to teach them how to pray.
1 John 5:14-15, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us whatever we ask we know that we have what we asked of him.”
THE ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER —
Some time ago I read how a nurse taught a very sick man how to pray. In so doing, she changed his life. This once discouraged, disheartened and miserable man became a person filled with joy and peace.
The nurse used her hand to teach him the steps of prayer. Our hands were created to hold things. They also touch, feel, and help us communicate through gestures. They can also help us remember things. That is why the principles of prayer are easily remembered by the use of our hands.
There is deep satisfaction in bringing your loved ones and all mankind to God in prayer. Each of her fingers stood for someone. Her thumb was nearest to her, and it reminded her to pray for those who were nearest and dearest to her. The second finger is used for pointing. Those who teach us often point to us with this finger when they would ask us a question; therefore, her second finger stood for all her teachers in school and in the hospital.
The third finger is the tallest so it stood for VIP’S (Very Important People). This category includes the leaders in every sphere of life. As every pianist knows, the fourth finger is the weakest finger. The nurse used this finger to remind the man to pray for those who were weak, for people in trouble, or in pain.
Finally, the little finger is the smallest and the most unimportant. To the nurse it stood for herself and by using this finger it helped her to keep her life in perspective. This is a good way to remember the basics of prayer.
(1) THUMB – REMINDS US TO PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE CLOSEST TO US: Your loved ones, family, and friends. (Ephesians 6:18; Matthew 7:11; l John 5:16).
(2) POINTER – PRAY FOR SPIRITUAL LEADERS: For Pastors, Evangelists, Teachers, Missionaries and Fellow Workers. (Ephesians 6:19; Colossians 1:9-10; 4:3-4).
(3) TALL ONE – PRAY FOR THE V.I.P.’S (Very Important People) IN THE WORLD: Presidents, Kings, leaders, our employers, the Sheriff. (1Timothy 2:1-2; 1 Samuel 12:23).
(4) THE WEAKEST – PRAY FOR THE WEAK AND HURTING IN THE WORLD: First pray for those that you know about, then read the newspaper for people in accidents, sickness and death in a family. (Galatians 6:10; 1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 34:4-5; Matthew 25:40; 2 Thessalonians 3:2,3; 3 John 1:2; Acts 20:35).
(5) LITTLE ONE – PRAY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR NEEDS: By confession and petition. (1 John 1:9; Hebrews 4:16; Colossians 4:2; Ephesians 3:16).
A prayerless life is a defeated life. In Luke 18:1, Jesus said, “…men ought always to pray and not to faint.” If you pray you won’t faint and be feeble in life. Pray is the mightiest force on earth. As you pray, whose life will you change, and what circumstances will you influence today?