Five Fingers Of Prayer
For Women By Women
Submitted by Paula Neff
November 1, 2024
1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
You may have seen or heard of the Five Fingers of Prayer. It is an easy way to remember those we need to pray for if we don’t have a written list nearby. I recently came across this simple list by an unknown author and have adapted it slightly to help us be reminded of those we need to pray for.
Your thumb is nearest to you, so begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you - your family and friends. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is a “sweet duty.”
The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct, and heal. These include teachers, pastors or preachers, and doctors. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.
The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the leaders in government, business, industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God’s guidance.
The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger (as any piano teacher will testify). It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble, or in pain. They need our prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for these.
And last comes our little finger: the smallest finger of all. This is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others, in lowliness and humility. Your pinkie finger should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups your own needs will be put into proper perspective, and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.
Prayer is so important to the Christian life. The one thing the disciples asked Jesus to teach them was to pray (Luke 11:1). There are so many verses in the Bible that speak of prayer and praying, and we have so much to pray about.
In thinking about the Five Fingers of Prayer, we first need to pray that the unsaved will come to know the Lord as Saviour. Then, we need to pray for those who know Christ to follow His will for their lives as well as to pray for their needs. Truly, we have much to pray about.
Consider – Ps 66:19 But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.