ACTS.
If you have ever thought, “I wish there was an easy formula for praying because I just don’t know where to start,” well, there is a fairly well known guide for the basics in a prayer life. Using the acrostic, A.C.T.S, we get a simple picture of a well rounded prayer life. Let’s take a look at it.
Adoration.
The “A” stands for adoration. This means that we can start our prayers by praising God for who He is. Another way to think of this is beginning our prayers by expressing our love for and to God. Psalm 36:5 describes God’s love and faithfulness. “Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.” Psalm 89:1 describes God’s mercy. “I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.” This whole idea of adoration can flow out of your ongoing relationship with God. Begin your prayer by saying, “God You are the only loving and merciful God.” Sometimes read the Psalms back to God as a prayer. People have prayed the Psalms to God for ages, and this is a great way to pray adoration to God.
Confession.
The “C” stands for confession. This means that we admit our sins to God. Confession is not just saying, “Lord, please forgive me of all my sins.” It is specifically recognizing our individual sins, and seeing them the way God sees them. 1 John 1:9 says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” So, we pray, God please forgive me for ________ (you fill in the blank.) Confession is an ongoing part of our relationship with Christ. When we sin our fellowship and communion with God is hindered. Romans 6:1-2 says, “Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” God’s grace and our death to sin are an everlasting and eternal picture of our salvation. This is our position in Christ. Our “continuing to live” is a picture of our day to day condition in a dynamic relationship with God through Christ. Regular confession keeps that relationship uncluttered and open. This reminds us that prayer is not an end in itself, but is a gracious gift by which we may have an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Thanksgiving.
The “T” stands for thanksgiving. This of course means to thank God for the many blessings that He has brought to your life. Maybe things have not been going so well for you. Many times our lives do not turn out the way we had planned, or the way we had hoped they would. Maybe that’s why you are reading this article and are coming to God in prayer, because it just seems that things are so messed up and are hopeless. Please know that your Heavenly Father loves you with a deep and everlasting love. He has not given up hope for you. Jeremiah 31:3 says, “The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”
God can take the toughest situations in our lives and bring something wonderful out of them. Romans 8:31-32 says, “If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” Isn’t that an awesome promise? A few verse before that in verse 28 the Bible says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” This verse of Scripture has been so misused. Please notice that God is working all things to work together for good for His purposes, and not our own. Rest in God and trust in Him that He knows what is best for your life. Thank Him that you can come to Him prayer, even in the darkest moments of life. Keep a list of God’s blessings and the ways that He is answering your prayers. Thank Him for His love to you, for His faithfulness, even though things might not be going so well. Trust Him by faith and give Him thanks for the eventual outcome of tough situations.
Supplication.
Finally, the S stands for supplication. This means to offer up our requests to God. 1 Timothy 2:1 says, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,” Remember the Bible says that we can bring all of our needs and requests to God in prayer. There is no matter that is too big or too small for us to bring to God in prayer. This is where keeping a prayer list is a good idea. One way that you might do this is offer different requests on different days of the week. So, say on Monday pray for your family. On Tuesday pray for your friends. And so forth… As you see God answer prayer, record the answers in your PeoplePray journal, or mark your prayers on your “my prayer” list to “answered” in your PeoplePray.com account. This will give you a record of what God has done for you and give you history of things to give Thanksgiving for.
We hope you find these ACTS a simple, yet effective, way to kickstart your prayer life.
God Bless,