Our Little Hands: The Five Finger Prayer

 Prayer is the way we communicate with God. Though God knows every desires of our heart, He loves to listen at us. He likes it whenever we talk to Him and every time we exert an effort to include Him in our thoughts. We are building our personal relationship with God every time we talk to Him and every time we spend a quiet moment with Him. Through our prayers and bible reading time, God reveals himself to us.

One fine day while I was preparing my papers for my college enrolment, my mother gave me a print out.  It was an email that was sent to her. It was entitled with Five Finger Prayer. I first look at the baby and the hand in the picture. In the picture, I saw a baby praying while there is a pair of hands surrounding him. The hands are also in a prayer form. It seems like he is also praying while he holds the baby. I realize that the baby represents us while the hands represent God. I really appreciate the print out so I think it is worth sharing for. Here is what our fingers represent:    

1.     Thumb - Our thumb is the nearest finger to us. Begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is a sweet duty just like what C.S. Lewis once said. They are the ones who occupy a special place in our hearts. Whenever we pray for them we speak blessings and we also ask God to give their hearts’ desires if it is according to His will.

2.      Pointing finger – We should pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. These comprise our teachers, professors, instructors, doctors, nurses, and our ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others at the cross. They also need the sustenance to continue their calling in our everyday lives. Pray for their strength and endurance for them to overcome the challenges and problems that they may encounter. We should also keep in our hearts that their duty is not that easy and therefore we should remember them in our prayers.

3.      Tallest finger – This finger reminds us our leaders. Pray for the president, senators and congressmen, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They are the ones who are in charge to steward our country. They are also responsible in building the nation’s economic stability. Although in our eyes we see how rampant graft and corruption is, I believe that there are still public officials who fear God and who fulfill their duty with all their might. Keep in mind that though they have the power and the authority, they are still human beings. Just like us, they are also fragile and vulnerable in sin and temptations. They also need God’s grace and mercy.

4.      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. We cannot pray too much for them to ease up their burdens. Only God can cast out their heart aches. They need comfort and words of encouragement. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we should also remember them in our prayers for them to overcome their trials.

5.      Little finger – The smallest finger of all is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the bible says, ‘The least shall be the greatest among you.’ Your pinkie 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. 

Soli deo Gloria!