Topic: How to Use Your Hands to Pray [RICK WARREN Devotional 3 September 2021]

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How to Use Your Hands to Pray

BY RICK WARREN — SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)There’s nothing too small to pray about. There’s nothing too big to pray about. Pray about everything.

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7 NLT).

If it’s worth worrying about, it’s worth praying about.

There’s a simple way to remember how to pray using your hands. Psalm 88:9 says, “LORD, every day I call to you and lift my hands to you in prayer” (GNT).

The fingers on your left hand represent who to pray for, and the fingers on your right hand represent what to pray for. If you remember these steps, you can easily make a habit of praying throughout your day. Today we’ll talk about who to pray for, and tomorrow we’ll walk through what to pray for.

When you hold up your left hand, which finger is closest to your heart? Your thumb. The people closest to your heart are your family and friends. Your thumb reminds you to pray for them first.

The index finger is the one that points the way. It represents teachers and leaders in your life who point you toward Jesus and God’s will. Pray that they will help you and others make wise decisions and that they will be wise in their own lives as well.

Your tallest finger is the middle finger. Let it remind you to pray for people in authority and people who influence society. Pray for them to lead with integrity and influence others for good, not bad.

Your ring finger is pretty weak. It can help you remember to pray for people who tend to be more vulnerable, including the elderly, those suffering from illness, and people who do not have enough to eat. Pray for God to meet their needs and draw them closer to him.

The last finger, your pinky, represents you. It’s okay to pray for yourself! But don’t start there. Pray for yourself last, after you pray for everybody else.

This simple reminder can help you transform your prayer life. Try it, and watch how God grows you into a person of greater faith.

• How might it be helpful to pray for others before you pray for yourself?
• When you view prayer as a conversation with God, what changes about the way you pray?
• What time of day would be the best time for you to consistently use this finger method of praying? Commit to praying this way daily during the next week.