{"id":159,"date":"2020-08-18T12:00:53","date_gmt":"2020-08-18T18:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.navigators.org\/?post_type=resource&p=159"},"modified":"2025-08-12T14:31:34","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T20:31:34","slug":"the-prayer-hand","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/www.navigators.org\/resource\/the-prayer-hand\/","title":{"rendered":"The Prayer Hand"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Many believers find that prayer can be one of the hardest parts of spiritual discipline. The Prayer Hand<\/em> is an easy way to remember five essential aspects of prayer: confession, petition, intercession, thanksgiving and praise. Use The Prayer Hand<\/em> resource to walk through each of these five purposes. Remember that the purpose is ultimately about aligning our own hearts with God\u2019s, and just as the fifth aspect explains below (illustrated by the thumb), praises to God should permeate every part of our prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Little Finger \u2013 Confession<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The little finger represents confession<\/strong>\u2014I agree with God about my sin.
1 John 1:9<\/a>\u2014\u201cIf we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ring Finger \u2013 Petition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The ring finger represents petition<\/strong>\u2014I ask God to provide for my needs.
1 Samuel 1:27<\/a>\u2014\u201cI prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Middle Finger \u2013 Intercession<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The middle finger represents intercession<\/strong>\u2014I ask God to provide for the needs of others.
Ephesians 6:18-19<\/a>\u2014\u201cAnd pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord\u2019s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Index Finger \u2013 Thanksgiving<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The index finger represents thanksgiving<\/strong>\u2014I thank God for what He has done in, through, and for me. I also thank Him for His answers to prayers in the lives of those around me and for His ongoing work across the nation and the world.
Ephesians 5:20<\/a>\u2014\u201c\u2026always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thumb \u2013 Praise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The thumb represents praise<\/strong>\u2014I let my enjoyment and adoration of God overflow into words. As the thumb is able to touch all four other fingers, so praise should permeate every part of my prayer life.
Psalm 146:1-2<\/a>\u2014\u201cPraise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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