ACTS of Prayer
by Maria Houpt
Martin Luther once described prayer as "the Christian's greatest honor and privilege." As believers, we can approach God boldly, confident in His love and accessibility to us. As Paul tells us in Ephesians 3:12, “In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”
The purpose of Christian prayer, as outlined in Scripture, is multifaceted, encompassing various aspects of the believer's relationship with God. Through prayer, we can express Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication, nurturing intimacy with the Lord as we align ourselves with His will. ACTS is simply an acronym for four fundamentals of prayer that can keep us focused on God, so we don’t drift in our thoughts.
Here is how we can confidently come before God’s throne to adore Him, confess to Him, thank Him, and supplicate (ask) Him to meet our needs.
Adoration
Christian prayer begins with adoration, recognizing God's greatness, sovereignty, and holiness. Psalm 95:6 urges believers, "Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker." This verse stresses how we should approach God in prayer – with the respect and humility that He deserves, recognizing Him as the source of all that is good. Start your prayer adoring God for who He is. Scripture says God is worthy of our praise, regardless of what He has given to or withheld from us. He is worthy simply because He is God. In Psalm 100:5, the psalmist tells us to recount God’s worthiness as we worship Him: “For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations” (NIV).
Confession
Prayer provides a space for us to confess our sins and failings before God. Psalm 32:5 affirms, "Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.' And you forgave the guilt of my sin" (NIV, emphasis mine). Confession opens the door to forgiveness and restoration, allowing believers to experience the powerful forgiveness of God.
God already knows our sins, but by confessing them, we are admitting to and acknowledging that our sins are offensive to God, and we are agreeing with Him that we need His Son, Jesus, to wash us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Thanksgiving
Gratefulness is essential to Christian prayer, as we express thankfulness for God's blessings and provisions. In Philippians 4:6, Paul encourages believers, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (NIV, emphasis mine). We should practice thankfulness to God in everything, even thanking Him for the trials that are molding us into the image of Christ, and for the purifying work He is doing within us.
Scripture is very clear on our command to be grateful and not just for what God has given us. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Paul instructs: “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (NIV, emphasis mine). Notice the verse doesn’t say, “In good things give thanks.” Instead, it orders us to be thankful in everything – the good, the bad, and the ugly. As we do this, we are living out the will of God for us.
Supplication
In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul admonishes us that we are not to worry about anything, "but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. " (NIV, emphasis mine). Through supplication, believers entrust their needs and desires to God, trusting His wisdom and provision.
Overall, Christian prayer deepens our relationship with God, aligning our hearts with His purposes and inviting His presence, will, and guidance into our lives. As we engage in adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication, we experience the transformative power of prayer, drawing closer to God and experiencing His grace, peace, and provision in our lives.
I challenge you to deepen your prayer life and connection with God. If you do not have a time of prayer that you are committed to, I encourage you to commit to a week (to start!) of prayer. I know you already have much on your plate. I know church activities, kid’s activities, and daily life in general keep everyone busy, but this is important! So, I encourage you to take on this challenge!
Do not get overwhelmed when you notice there are ten points. They are quick, I promise.
Choose a specific time each day when you can have uninterrupted quiet time with God.
Set aside at least 15-30 minutes for prayer each day this week. Only have time for 5 minutes? Ok, start with that.
Find a quiet and comfortable place where you won't be disturbed.
Begin your prayer time with a short prayer of invitation, asking God to speak to you during this time of silence. I have found that this is an essential step for my prayer time.
Spend the first minute or two simply being still and quieting your mind. Focus on your breath or a calming word to center your thoughts. I like to picture the cross, so I remain aware of why I am doing this.
Open your heart and mind to God's presence. Be receptive to whatever thoughts, feelings, or impressions may arise.
Resist the urge to fill the silence with words or requests. Instead, practice active listening, attentively waiting for God to speak to you in whatever way He chooses.
Practice the ACTS method of prayer, beginning with A.
Repeat this practice each day for a week, allowing it to become a regular part of your prayer routine. Where possible, increase your time with God each day.
At the end of the week, take some time to reflect on your experience with this prayer challenge.
By embracing this challenge, you'll foster a more profound intimacy with God as you learn to quiet your heart and mind, attentively listening for His voice in the middle of the silence.
May the Lord use your faithfulness in this time with Him to bless you, so you feel His love, power, and forgiveness.
