I found this at Jonny Baker ‘s blog here
Using a cord with beads or knots as an aid to prayer is practiced in many spiritual traditions including Christian. Having something tactile helps give a rhythm and focus to one’s prayer.
To use prayer beads, take the cord in one hand and hold a bead between the thumb and index finger. Pray a prayer, pause, then push the bead on and take the next one. Repeat for one cycle or as many as you like.
The prayer cord in the picture can be made very easily with a piece of cord and five beads of different colors. If you make a prayer cord as pictured these colors could represent the following:
yellow – thanks
red – mercy
blue – peace
green – healing
purple – justice
You could pray with your own words and thoughts or try these simple prayers:
yellow – thanks for life
red – have mercy on me
blue – peace on earth as it is in heaven
green – you are the healer, come and heal … in Jesus’ name
purple – may your justice roll down like a river Amen