How’s Your Prayer Life?

How’s Your Prayer Life?

I’ve struggled off and on with my prayer life in different seasons. I know that’s true for many people and sometimes it seems though we pray consistently we’re simply not fulfilled. It can be hard to find the time, we get distracted so easily, we don’t pray fervently, we rush, and we all too often don’t stop and praise and repent during our prayer time – we just make requests. I came across this acronym a while back, ACTS, it’s actually the ACTS Prayer Model and it’s really blessed me.

What does the ACTS Prayer Model stand for?

A – Adoration: proclaiming who God is/attributes of His character
C – Confession: repentance
T – Thanksgiving: praise offering, remembering the works of the Lord
S – Supplication: asking, intercession, and petitioning
My hope for this post is that as you begin following these steps you’ll draw closer to the Lord. It is absolutely vital that we spend time with the Father.  Some days we may have a lot of time to carve out to spend in prayer and Bible study but too many times we busy ourselves and rush through that allotted time. I’m just as busy as the next person, but I do need to better prioritize the time I spend with the Father in prayer and in His written word. Either way, I know it’s very possible to pray meaningful, effective prayers and my prayer for you is that this method will bless you.

The ACTS Prayer Model

A: Adoration

Adoration. Begin your prayer time with adoration. Taking this time to quite your spirit, adore the Lord, and giving Him your attention and the affection of your heart. Use this time to just focus on His attributes and declaring who He is; not asking Him of anything. Praise and worship Him.

C: Confession

Confession. This is so important!! Confession! We’ve all sinned and need to confess and repent of our sins. Deny your sinful nature and take on the nature of Christ.  1 John 1:9 tells us that He is just and able to forgive us of our sin once we’ve confessed our sin(s) to Him. How beautiful is that? God’s grace is amazing, y’all! Once I’ve accepted His forgiveness I am thankful and have thanksgiving in my heart.

T: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving. Thank the Lord! Remind Him about all the times He’s showed His faithfulness and even be specific. Speak to Him about the faithfulness He has showed in all things; the promises in His written word, the faithfulness He’s shown in your family and relationships, and miracles. Anything and everything that comes to mind, all areas of life. It pleases the Father whenever we give thanksgiving for who He is and what He has done for us.

S: Supplication

Supplication. In Jesus’ name, make your requests known, this will help you focus on His will. Ask the Lord to give you the desires of His heart. Pray the Word and remind the Lord of His promises.

Sometimes I think we start to fall away from our discipline. We start reading the Bible a little less each week. We stop praying a little less each day. That prayer time becomes less and less in quantity and quality and eventually something happens and it’s no longer about repentance, thanksgiving, intercession, or relationship but just about making requests. God isn’t a genie in a bottle but we sure try to treat Him like that sometimes don’t we? Hey, I’m guilty of such. I’ll admit it, I’m the worst. I hope that this prayer model will be a sweet reminder that there’s so much more to prayer than asking God for “stuff”! Be blessed!!

“Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!”   Psalm 117

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