In both the old and new testaments of the bible the faithful prayed with hands lifted upward. The catacombs dating back to between the 2nd and 4th centuries have frescos of Christians praying with their hands lifted up. The Apostle Paul taught that believers should pray with hands lifted up.
“I desire therefore that the men in every place pray, lifting up holy hands without anger and doubting.” – 1 Timothy 2:8.
“And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven” –1 Kings 8:22
I don’t believe there is a “proper” prayer formula, more about the heart. But there no doubt the first Christians prayed with lifted hands not folded hands. This changed sometime after the 4th century. I suspect sometime in the middle ages.
So the question is when and why did the inward gesture of prayer come into practice? I would like to research this and find a specific answer.
Universal Salvation 
sounds legit to me http://www.who-is-the-antichrist.org
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I noticed this several years ago too, I also noticed there were different ways people prayed in the Bible depending on circumstance and surroundings.
This is what I was last to through study of Scripture.
*Kneeling*
1 Kings 8:54 And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the Lord , he _arose_ from before the altar of the Lord , from _kneeling on his knees_ with his hands spread up to heaven.
1 Kings 18:42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his _knees_, – see James 5:17-18
2 Chronicles 6:13 For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and _kneeled down upon his knees_ before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven,
Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he _kneeled upon his knees_ three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
Luke 22:41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and _kneeled down,_ and prayed,
Acts 9:40 But Peter put them all forth, and _kneeled down,_ and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
Acts 20:36 And when he had thus spoken, he _kneeled down,_ and prayed with them all.
Acts 21:5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we _kneeled down_ on the shore, and prayed.
*Hands to heavens*
Exodus 9:29 And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will _spread abroad my hands_ unto the Lord ; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the Lord’s.
1 Kings 8:54 What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: [54] And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the Lord , he arose from before the altar of the Lord , from kneeling on his knees with his _hands spread up to heaven._
2 Chronicles 6:12-14,29 And he stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and _spread forth his hands:_ [13] For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and _spread forth his hands toward heaven,_ [14] And said, O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts: [29] Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall _spread forth his hands_ in this house:
Psalm 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the _lifting up of my hands_ as the evening sacrifice.
Psalm 143:6 I _stretch forth my hands_ unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
Isaiah 1:15 And when ye _spread forth your hands,_ I will hide Mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, _lifting up holy hands,_ without wrath and doubting.
2 Chronicles 32:20 And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and _cried to heaven._
*Standing*
1 Samuel 1:9-10,13,26 So Hannah _rose up_ after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord . [10] And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord , and wept sore. [13] Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. [26] And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that _stood_ by thee here, praying unto the Lord.
2 Chronicles 20:5-6,13 And Jehoshaphat _stood_ in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord , before the new court, [6] And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? [13] And all Judah stood before the Lord , with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray _standing_ in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Mark 11:25 And when ye _stand_ praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Luke 18:11,13 The Pharisee _stood_ and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are , extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. [13] And the publican, _standing_ afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
*Sitting*
2 Samuel 7:18 Then went king David in, and _sat_ before the Lord , and he said, Who am I, O Lord God ? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
Nehemiah 1:4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I _sat_ down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
*Eyes lifted up*
Job 22:26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt _lift up thy face unto God._
Daniel 9:3 And I _set my face unto the Lord God,_ to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
Psalm 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord ; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will _look up._
Mark 6:41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he _looked up to heaven,_ and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
John 11:41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus _lifted up his eyes,_ and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and _lifted up his eyes to heaven,_ and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
Luke 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would _not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven,_ but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
2 Chronicles 32:20 And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and _cried to heaven._
*Bowed down, or prostrate*
Deuteronomy 9:25 Thus I _fell down_ before the Lord forty days and forty nights, as I fell down at the first ; because the Lord had said he would destroy you.
1 Kings 18:42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he _cast himself down upon the earth,_ and put his face between his knees, – see James 5:17-18
Ezra 10:1 Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and _casting himself down_ before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.
Psalm 35:14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I _bowed down_ heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
Matthew 26:39 And he went a little further, and _fell on his face,_ and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Mark 14:35 And he went forward a little, and _fell on the ground,_ and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
*Silent*
1 Samuel 1:9-10,13,26 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord. [10] And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. [13] Now Hannah, she _spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard:_ therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. [26] And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord.
I haven’t looked to much about clasped hands, but when I did I found it to be a classic pleasing position found in all others faiths, especially in ancient origin. It is a heathen practice.
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