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Below is a step-by-step approach to help you incorporate key elements of the 鈥 more fully into your daily prayer life. In this model, we focus on four central themes found in Jesus鈥 teaching on prayer: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication (specific prayer requests).
The 鈥淥ur Father鈥 prayer is more than words to recite鈥攊t鈥檚 a blueprint Jesus gave us to guide our hearts and shape how we connect with God. Each line reveals something about God's character, our relationship with Him, and how we鈥檙e called to live. As we pray through this model, we grow in intimacy with God and align our hearts with His.
We encourage you to also incorporate listening into your prayer time鈥攚hether through silence, reflection, or reading and meditating on Scripture. Prayer is not only about speaking to God but also creating space to hear from Him.
To help you remember and practice these elements, we are using the acronym A.C.T.S., which mirrors the heart of the 鈥淥ur Father鈥 prayer and invites us into a deeper, more balanced prayer life:
Let this model guide you into richer, more meaningful conversations with God.
At the conclusion of "The Prayer Factor" message series, Pastor Hurmon challenged us to pray each day for a week, following the format of the . Here are some tips!
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Prayer is simply a matter of talking to God, and anyone can do it. The challenge for 1 week is to spend 10 minutes a day in conversation with God in a variety of ways. The goal is to get to know Him better .
Postures of Prayer: The Bible teaches us that a variety of postures are appropriate. People may kneel, prostrate themselves on their faces, walk or sit all while praying. You may also incorporate a time of prayer into your commute to work (while on a car, train, bus or bike) or into a time of exercise, etc. What鈥檚 important is that you are serious about talking to and listening to God.
Methods of Prayer: Some people write their prayers in a journal, others sing them as they listen to Christian songs or praise music, and still others pray through Scripture. Any of these methods are sufficient as a means with which you can engage in conversation and share your heart with God. If you are searching for God amidst a tough season, then you to consider praying through the prayer in .
A Prayer Model: Jesus teaches us a model for prayer in the . To sanctify or make holy God鈥檚 name is to set God apart in your mind. You can do this by recognizing God鈥檚 greatness and goodness !
This begins with Praise (focus on 鈥渨ho鈥 God is, as revealed in Scripture and creation) and Thanksgiving (focus on 鈥渨hat鈥 God has done in your life).
Declare your praises or sense of 鈥渁we鈥 at who God is revealed to be! You can say, 鈥淟ord I praise you,鈥 or 鈥淕od I am astonished because鈥︹ or simply, 鈥淲ow!鈥 Reflect on the list below and/or add your own words or descriptions 鈥 but do so while in conversation with God.
I Praise You God! You are:
Conclude by reciting and claiming the truth of (NLT).
Offer thanksgiving: Remember 鈥渨hat鈥 God has done. In this section of prayer, you can share with God what you recall God has done in your life and why it is so meaningful to you. Use the categories below to spark your thinking. One category may be sufficient as your drill down into it. Example: 鈥淟ord I thank You for my family. Thank you for the spouse You have given me 鈥 he/she brings such joy. Thank You for my children (name them). I praise You for their sense of humor, their agile minds, their quick wit,鈥 etc.
Thank You, God, for:
Conclude by reciting and claiming the truth of (NIV).
Pray for self and others:
鈥淵our kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.鈥
In this section of prayer you are asking for God to align your life and our world with God鈥檚 agenda and purposes. You are praying that God鈥檚 will be done in your: Life (i.e. mind, passions, habits, dreams, etc.), your family (list them out and talk to God about each one), your church (leaders, finding a building, reaching those who feel far from God, etc.), your job (priorities, responsibilities, colleagues), your neighborhood, our nation and world. Within God鈥檚 Kingdom in Heaven, there is no injustice, poverty, sickness, death, inequality, etc. So, as you are praying (for God鈥檚 Kingdom to come and for God鈥檚 will to be done), you are asking that God release more justice across the nation, heal the sick (be specific where you can), eliminate more poverty, bring more peace where there is now discontent and war! You are praying for God鈥檚 authority to align our leaders in Washington and our Statehouse with His best will and greatest intent. Pray that God will even use missteps and mistakes to accomplish God鈥檚 will on earth!
Lord let your will be done and your Kingdom be established in: my life, my family, my church, my job, my neighborhood, our nation and the world.
Conclude by reciting and claiming the truth of (NIV).
Talk to God about provisions: your needs, dreams, questions, etc.:
鈥淕ive us this day, our daily bread.鈥
In this section of prayer you are asking God to give you the provisions you need to accomplish God鈥檚 will each day! For example, ask God to provide for your financial needs and to help you be the parent, spouse and/or friend you need to be today. Ask God to give you the wisdom and imagination to be effective at work, the resources to succeed in school, etc. Talk to God about your dreams and the questions with which you are struggling. Seek guidance regarding a personal struggle (ex: healing from depression or other struggles), healing for your body 鈥 whatever you need!
Conclude by reciting and claiming the truth of (NLT).
Ask God to forgive you and to help you forgive:
鈥淔orgive us our debts (sins) as we also have forgiven our debtors (those who have sinned against us).鈥
In this section of prayer, be prepared to claim responsibility for your sins, mistakes, destructive habits and poor choices. Additionally, as you itemize these personal challenges (e.g., 鈥淟ord I confess that I continue to be dishonest with my counselor.鈥) think about the various people your actions or choices have/or are wounding. Own your stuff. Repent (i.e., Tell God you are sorry and desire to do better.), and ask for God鈥檚 forgiveness for each incident on your list of regrets. If appropriate, ask the person you have wounded for forgiveness, and share your fresh commitment.
Conclude by reciting and claiming the truth of (NIV).
Now, make a list of all the people whom you have not forgiven. Consider the great forgiveness that God has just poured into your life. Ask God for strength to start the process of forgiving and letting go.
Perhaps you need to write a letter to the person (even if they are no longer alive) in order to share your pain and hurt with them and to inform them that you forgive them (or at least that you have started the forgiveness process). You can do this even if you decide not to send the letter. Ask God, 鈥淧lease fill my heart with compassion for _________. 聽 He / she hurt me out of his / her own hurt. Help me to forgive, and I ask that You forgive _______ as well. Consider repeating this step daily until you begin to feel a growing freedom from the resentment and pain that you are currently experiencing.
Conclude by reciting and claiming the truth of (NKJV).
Ask God for wisdom and protection:
鈥淎nd lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.鈥
Take a moment and identify your greatest temptations. Acknowledge them. You may even want to list them out in writing. Begin to ask God for wisdom. Ask God to show you how to avoid these temptations and to help you make wise decision regarding them. Secondly, take some time to pray for God鈥檚 guidance and protection from evil over your life and the lives of those who are dear to you.
End your time of prayer by affirming what the later biblical manuscripts include as an appropriate conclusion:
鈥淔or Yours (God) is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen鈥 (NJKV).
Prayer is a conversation. Therefore, it includes both talking and listening as God speaks back to you (e.g. as you read the Bible, as the Holy Spirit speaks to you during the Sunday message, etc.). As you talk with God, expect God to answer you (e.g., through an impression He leaves with you, someone who shares a point that is exactly what you need, an insight offered in a classroom, a dream, a vision, a song, a thought or verse of Scripture that comes into your mind. All of these are examples of how God may respond.). So, expect God鈥檚 response. It may come immediately or over time. God may answer a question or suggest that you continue to wait on Him! But God will NEVER tell you to do something that violates the teaching of Scripture (e.g., God will NEVER tell you to take your life.). Lastly, some answers may take months or even years. And when these answers come, they may not be in the form you expect. But keep talking, listening and believing 鈥 God longs to speak into your life, and He will do so.
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