How to Use Protestant Prayer Beads

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Protestant prayer beads were created by Rev. Lynn Bauman in the mid-1980s. There are 33 beads including the cross. The prayer beads are a set of 28 smaller beads in a round circle with four main larger beads known as cruciform beads around the circle. The 28 beads are known as the days of Jesus Christ with the single cruciform beads reflecting the crucifixion. The thirty-second bead, connected to the bottom cruciform bead is known as the invitatory bead and represents the 33 earthly years of Jesus' life. The invitatory bead holds the cross of the necklace. The beads are touched one by one and a prayer given on each section of the beads. The prayer beads lead you into stillness, allowing you to focus and concentrate your full attention on God.

1 Place the beads in your dominant hand

Place the beads in your dominant hand.

2 Hold the cross

Hold the cross and say your first prayer. After the first prayer has been said, move on to the invitatory bead.

3 Hold the invitatory bead section

Hold the invitatory bead section and say your second prayer.

4 Move through the circle of beads

Move through the circle of beads, stopping on each bead to say a prayer. Move through the circle of beads once, twice or three times. The prayers that are typically used are "Bless the Lord," The Lord's Prayer" and "Father, Son and Holy Ghost" prayer. The prayers are given by holding the prayer beads in specific sections and praying on each bead.

5 Return

Return to the invitatory bead and the cross of the beads and say your prayers once more.

Cassie Skelley has been writing articles about computers, electronics, video games and personal care for the Ikana Kai newsletter and Bon Losee Beauty College since 2005. Skelley majored in biology at Brigham Young University-Hawaii and in cosmetology at Bon Losee.

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