You ever have trouble figuring out HOW to pray? I learned this tool at my church and have been using it to some success…nearly everyday over the last 2 weeks I’ve prayed, and I expect this to become a solid habit in my life now. It’s called the ACTS method, modeled on the Lord’s prayer, and each letter details a ‘section’ of the prayer:
A=Adoration. Tell God why you love Him. If you’re stumped, the Bible itself offers all kinds of explanation as to why to revere Him. (for His holiness, mercy, justice, power, omnipotence, because He knows our innermost thoughts,etc etc etc)
C=Confession. There are actually 2 parts to confession. Confessing ways we fail God because we break a “do not” rule…i.e. we’ve stolen time from our employer…breaking the commandment against stealing. (We all know “time is money” so why do we seem to think goofing off on the job isn’t stealing?)
The other part consists of sins we commit by NOT doing things God says we SHOULD do…forgetting about the widow and orphan..not visiting prisoners..failing to treat others as we would like to be treated.
T=Thanksgiving. Just remembering to be grateful for the fact that we draw breath, our health, use of our mental faculties, our spouse/kids/friends, our salvation. Whatever items that we take for granted could go here.
S=Supplication. This consists of asking God for things you need for your family..requests about health, finances, your relationship with Him, for unsaved relatives. It also can (and should) entail prayer for government leaders from the local to the national level…that they would be guided by God’s wisdom, either directly or through trusted advisors. Also, we should be praying for the leaders of the church, that they would be close to God and be guided by the Holy Spirit into a life of grace and truth as an example to those who don’t know God yet..that their families would be supportive of them…that the attacks of the enemy on them would be thwarted. Besides praying for the leaders at the particular house of worship you go to, it should also include prayer for the UNIVERSAL Church…the Body of Christ composed of everyone who’s accepted Jesus as Saviour and Lord worldwide. Pray that we’re united in purpose, seeking to transform the world around us as salt and light.
If anyone needs any more information on this, I’d be glad to expound further via email…contact me at gbrady43228DON’TYPETHISPARTIT’SONLYHERESOTHATSPAMMERSCAN’TSTEALMYADDRESS@columbus.rr.com
