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Thursday, August 8, 2013

Hands of Prayer

I am always looking for new ways to encourage kids to pray, especially to get them out of the rut of talking/asking/praising about the same things.  I am just as guilty of this- I tend to remember to pray for the people I care most about, immediate situations, and my needs.  The bigger picture and people I don't interact with are likely to be forgotten in typical daily prayer.

Then I remembered this neat technique we used in a Christian club I was in during high school.  It is about using your fingers as memory tricks to help you pray for a wider variety of people.

  • Pinky Finger- Smallest and weakest finger-Pray for the sick, dying, weak, homeless, uneducated, etc.
  • Ring Finger- Finger that is a symbol of commitment and family- pray for those you are closest to- friends and family
  • Middle Finger- Stands up tall- Pray for those in positions of leadership- The president, government leaders, principals, employers, etc.
  • Pointer Finger- Points the way- Pray for those who are an example of Christian life- The Pope, bishops, priests, teachers, mentors
  • Thumb- Closest to you- Pray for your concerns, plans, hopes, and fears
So I made a coloring page to hang up as a reminder or teaching tool:

 Click here for the printable:

61 comments:

  1. AnonymousSeptember 21, 2013 at 7:26 AM

    This is great - thank you!

    God bless you!
    Rhonda

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    Replies
    1. KatieSeptember 21, 2013 at 9:29 PM

      Thanks Rhonda!

      Delete
    2. Naomi Satterwhite naomisatterwhite73 @gmail.comMarch 14, 2018 at 10:10 PM

      This is awesome

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    3. CAROL cOXApril 16, 2022 at 11:07 AM

      Thank you Katie! I was looking for something to put into my Bible Journal to remind me of prayer.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 28, 2013 at 12:30 AM

    This is awesome! Thank you so much for sharing! God bless!

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  3. Tiffany NevilJanuary 27, 2014 at 9:14 PM

    This is so encouraging! Thanks!

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  4. UnknownAugust 6, 2014 at 5:18 AM

    This is wonderful for our CCD children! I hope to use this year when I teach my 2nd graders about prayer.

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    Replies
    1. KatieAugust 6, 2014 at 11:33 AM

      Great Barbara! Be assured of my prayers for you and your students!

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    2. AnonymousOctober 2, 2022 at 11:39 PM

      Love your idea x

      Delete
  5. AnonymousOctober 2, 2014 at 3:21 PM

    Will be using this today. Thanks!

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  6. Amazing AshantiJanuary 12, 2015 at 9:41 PM

    This is great! Can't wait to use this with my youth bible study group with on our lesson of praying for others! Thanks for sharing!

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    Replies
    1. KatieJanuary 14, 2015 at 10:38 PM

      Yay! So glad it will be helpful for you and the kids!

      Delete
  7. AnonymousJanuary 13, 2015 at 2:14 PM

    This is wonderful. If you don't mind I may use it with my 2nd graders as a small prayer journal. I would use the hand to make five pages and focus each week on a different finger of the hand. We would focus on praying thoughtfully on each of the topics.

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    Replies
    1. KatieJanuary 14, 2015 at 10:37 PM

      Of course! What a great way to extend this idea!

      Delete
  8. AnonymousMarch 19, 2015 at 11:18 AM

    This is wonderful. I would like to use this for a discipleship course on Prayer for my 1st-6th graders.

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  9. AnonymousApril 18, 2015 at 6:00 PM

    Thanks for this. Will use it in Sunday school tomorrow!

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  10. MarisolApril 18, 2015 at 9:22 PM

    Wonderful! God bless!

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  11. JenniferApril 19, 2015 at 7:00 AM

    Thank you so much!

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  12. heavensheartdesignsMay 6, 2015 at 9:35 AM

    Thank you for such a lovely printable. As a CCD catechist, I love this for my kids. I printed an extra one to frame and paint for my 'sacred space' in our home. A daily reminder that God is near and prayer is getting closer to Him.

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    Replies
    1. KatieMay 8, 2015 at 5:00 PM

      Thank you! I am glad that it will be a great reminder to you and your family!

      Delete
  13. AnonymousOctober 20, 2015 at 8:56 AM

    I love your printable! I wonder if you would be willing to make a similar one that aligns with Pope Francis' five finger prayer. It is similar but 3 of the fingers are switched around-- thumb is family and friends, pointer is leaders & teachers, tallest is government and authority, ring finger is the weak or sick, and pinkie is myself last. I would like to use your printable in my religious ed classes. thank you so much!

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    Replies
    1. KatieOctober 25, 2015 at 8:57 PM

      Thanks for your feedback! I made this printable a while before Pope Francis was elected, but if I had only known....I would have waited and then it would have matched! I will keep your suggestions in mind, but since this was hand drawn, I would essentially have to start over. Not a bad request, but one that I will have to add to my to-do list. Make sure you follow my blog so that you will keep up when I add new projects. Thanks!

      Delete
  14. LidaNovember 18, 2015 at 2:41 PM

    Thank you for this! May I use it at a ladies retreat? I will place several copies on each table with colored pencils for the ladies to meditate and pray with during down time.

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    1. KatieNovember 19, 2015 at 11:43 PM

      Lida, I love that idea! Please do you use it! I know that I love to draw and color while praying. I hope they love it :)

      Delete
  15. Rebecca SchartnerNovember 26, 2015 at 9:40 AM

    Thanks for sharing this! I really appreciate it - I printed out a few copies for me and my girls to do this morning :)

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  16. AnonymousDecember 16, 2015 at 9:02 AM

    Katie,

    I'm in the process of developing a curriculum for youth. Is it ok if I get your permission to use this in my published work? (noting you as the author of course)

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    Replies
    1. KatieDecember 16, 2015 at 1:40 PM

      Hi! I'd be interested in helping, but I'd like to hear some more information. Could you please email me a description of your plans and its intended audience? thanks! katherine (dot) bogner (at) gmail (dot) com

      Delete
  17. AnonymousDecember 16, 2015 at 3:02 PM

    I just printed the Hands of Prayer sheet, I LOVE IT!!! Such a Blessing! Thank you!!!

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  18. Ruth JoyJanuary 20, 2016 at 6:04 AM

    Really useful, thanks for creating this!

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  19. Carrie StrattonJanuary 20, 2016 at 12:45 PM

    I really like this. Can't wait to do this with my kids. Great idea!

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  20. singerwomanFebruary 2, 2016 at 4:43 PM

    Wonderful. Thank you.

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  21. luvrofmusikFebruary 17, 2016 at 4:49 PM

    I want to say thank you for this idea. I really like it and will be using it with my young people in my church. I don't have a printer to print the one you have, but I am going to let my young people do their own hand. I think they will enjoy this. God Bless You!

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  22. UnknownFebruary 25, 2016 at 8:17 PM

    Thanks! I plan to use this with my 5th graders tomorrow in our Bible class ;)

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    Replies
    1. KatieFebruary 29, 2016 at 6:10 AM

      That's great, Erin! Thanks!

      Delete
    2. UnknownOctober 16, 2020 at 9:12 AM

      Just came across the fingers of prayer..and it's just a desire met to help our kids and youth to develop the art of prayer..BLESSINGS

      Delete
  23. TashaMarch 19, 2016 at 10:03 PM

    Thank you so much for sharing. I'm going to share this with my children.

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  24. Linda McneelyJune 24, 2016 at 3:05 PM

    I tried to print it out and only a portion of it would print.

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    Replies
    1. KatieJune 24, 2016 at 3:39 PM

      Sorry you're having trouble, Linda! I checked and the links are all good. My suggestion would be to download the print to your desktop and print directly from there as opposed to printing from the browser. Hope that helps!

      Delete
  25. MSZ_knowitall11September 13, 2016 at 3:07 PM

    I absolutely love this! I will definitely use this and teach my kids with this method. Thanks for sharing.

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  26. UnknownSeptember 21, 2016 at 3:26 AM

    thank you so much for sharing

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  27. Ben WebbNovember 2, 2016 at 8:27 PM

    Thanks for this. Its really cool.

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  28. AnuhyaJanuary 21, 2017 at 12:09 PM

    Thanq so much for ur ideas.. a gud start for new year..

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  29. UnknownJanuary 25, 2017 at 12:53 AM

    Thanks so much for this resource! Just what I needed!

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  30. Quinton QuilterMarch 7, 2017 at 12:35 PM

    Something for my folks in senior care who love to color to use on the National Day of Prayer. Great idea. Thanks.

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  31. AnonymousJanuary 21, 2018 at 11:28 AM

    Thank you. This looks fun and an easy reminder for all my fourth grade students. I know they'll love it!

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  32. xApril 24, 2018 at 3:00 AM

    Thank you so much

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  33. LilFebruary 15, 2019 at 3:18 PM

    Thank you for the link! I didn't want to link to your file but the actual post. So glad you responded! :)

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  34. UnknownFebruary 18, 2019 at 1:53 PM

    It's LIVE!
    Thank you!

    https://embracingthelovely.com/acronyms-prayer/

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  35. Going 2heavenMarch 12, 2020 at 4:17 PM

    Thank you so much. Very helpful.

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  36. UnknownMay 6, 2020 at 8:01 AM

    Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  37. Just JeanneMay 24, 2020 at 10:41 PM

    Thank you for sharing your talent with the world....You are appreciated!
    I believe children and my grandchildren will be blessed as they color and read these things to remember.....thank you again

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  38. angelmusic_9June 4, 2020 at 3:50 AM

    Thank you! This is helpful and beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  39. UnknownMarch 20, 2021 at 2:10 PM

    Great printable! I really appreciate this!

    ReplyDelete
  40. JoeyApril 8, 2021 at 1:16 AM

    Thank you very much for sharing this idea which allows us to make our prayer life more enriching! God bless you!

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  41. AnonymousJuly 7, 2022 at 11:09 AM

    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  42. AnonymousNovember 1, 2023 at 9:14 PM

    Thank-you very much.

    ReplyDelete