Simplify Your Life: Through Prayer (First Edition)

Life is downright hectic, is it not?  Between work, home, church, small business gigs on the side, and blogging, I’m exhausted when it comes to Friday nights.  (Hence the lack of a social life in that list!)  The older I get, the more I understand why people go through with purchasing a vacation home…it’s an excuse for an escape from reality! Sometimes life just gets to be too much; with all of the items on the to-do list circling in your head, it’s maddening!  
How do we overcome these instances where we feel like assuming the fetal position?  One way is through prayer.

Why pray?  Do you feel better when you are able to talk to someone to get your thoughts off your chest?  Of course you do, and praying provides you the same relief, but additional benefits!  Praying provides you an outlet for your concerns, your deepest darkest secrets and a place to turn to when you have no one else.

Do you fear that you don’t know the right words to say?  That there’s some special jargon that you should know in order to gain access to the almighty Father?  Don’t worry, praying can be easy.  You just have to initiate the conversation, because that’s what praying is, a conversation.  It also provides you a unique, but humbling experience.

It’s like talking to your favorite celebrity, but on an even bigger scale.  It’s an opportunity to connect with the same God that created the heavens and the earth; the same God that made Eve from Adam’s rib and sent Jesus to live among us.  It’s a conversation with the same God that designed you, down to the unique swirls in your fingerprints.  A conversation that He’s been waiting to have!

Over the next few days I’ll be sharing some different and somewhat alternative methods of prayer that aren’t the slightest bit scary and can help guide you in starting that conversation!  Today we’re starting out on one of my favorites; one I’ve used over the years and a method of prayer that is easily transferable to children and youth.

I’ve actually learned two different methods of the Five Finger Prayer.  Feel free to use whichever method is easier for you to remember or work best with your family or prayer time.

Representative Five Finger Prayer:

Methods of Prayer Using Five Fingers:

Thumb – Petition (Psalm 5:3)
The petition is when we lift up our concerns and requests before the Lord, for our spiritual and physical needs.

Pointer – Intercession (Colossians 4:12)
Intercessory prayer is when you pray on the behalf of someone else in need.

Middle Finger – Confession (1 John 1:9)
Confession is the acknowledgment of our sins and our repentance.  It is also seeking forgiveness for our sins.

Ring Finger – Thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:19-20)
Thanksgiving is the act of expressing your gratefulness for the blessings bestowed upon you.

Pinky – Praise (Psalm 34:1-3) 
Praise is the act of worshiping God which allows us to be brought into His presence.

Five fingers – five topics to pray for, it’s as easy as that!  And before you know it, the elevated stress levels you have been facing will be diminished.  Our righteous God will give you relief from your distress; being merciful unto you by hearing your prayer. (Psalm 4:1)

More tips and alternative methods of prayer will be shared throughout the remainder of the week.  And my blog series will continue next week with even more tips on how to Simplify Your Life and Start Living!  Don’t miss out! Get new posts sent directly to your inbox by joining the mailing list!

Update: Read Part Two of this Series

Do you have a favorite method of prayer?

See other ways to Simplify Your Life and Start Living…