Prayer: ACTS
How often do we sit down to pray, and this happens: we think of our family, we pray for our family; we think of all we have to do that day, we pray God would bless all we do; we sit some more, and then we say Amen. Our prayer life should be more than a laundry list of prayer requests. This resource gives us more structure and more holistic themes for prayer. To start, try spending 3 minutes in each of the four sections. Notice which sections were easiest and most difficult for you. Over time, each area will become easier and more natural.
Adoration
We praise God for his specific attributes, character, or personality.
The purpose of adoration is to enter into holy space with God. This sets the tone for our entire prayer, reminds us of God’s identity and character, purifies our hearts as we pray, and declares to God that He is worthy of our praise. In this time, you can thank God for specific attributes, like His mercy and compassion, His character, and His personality. Did you see God’s goodness yesterday? Praise Him for His goodness!
Psalms of adoration include Psalm 19, 84, and 103.
Confession
We name our faults before God and confess our sin, asking Him for forgiveness based on His righteousness alone. Try not to lump them together, but confess them specifically.
Pray for God’s grace and the Spirit’s power to walk in freedom from these sins, knowing that they are atoned for by Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Psalms of confession include Psalm 31, 50, and 130.
Thanksgiving
We express our gratitude to God for what He’s done. There are four kinds of blessings to thank God for:
Answered prayers
Spiritual blessings
Relational blessings
Material blessings
Look at Luke 17:11-19, where Jesus heals the lepers. All of those who were healed were undoubtedly grateful to Jesus, but only one came back and directly thanked Him.
Psalms of thanksgiving include Psalm 34, 95, and 100.
Supplication
We ask God for His help in our lives. This could include praying over relationships in your life, family situations, decision-making, personal growth, or tangible needs.
Pray that the Lord would provide these needs, knowing that His character is blameless and that He is the God who provides for His people.
Psalms of supplication include Psalm 25, 86, and 143.
Pray in this format for two weeks, at least three times a week. Record your reactions, including which section was most easy and which was most difficult.