Is there a right way to pray?
3 minute reading time
First and foremost, your girl loves an acronym. I’ve always been a words person, and the simplicity of an acronym helps my crowded, little brain process and retain.
I’ll never forget the sermon almost 10 years ago that changed my prayer life… through an acronym.
I love this acronym because it’s easy to remember and very short (again, crowded brain). And while I don’t think there’s necessarily a “right” way to pray, I do believe there is a reverant way to pray.
The ACTS acronym sets the stage to do just that.
ACTS
A is for Admire.
This is where we worship God. Begin a prayer by praising Him for who He is — not neccessarily what He’s done.
Who is He?
He is worthy, most high, my rock, my salvation, King of kings!1 The Psalms are chockful of praise to help you on this portion of prayer. Another way to keep it fresh (and use the ol' noggin) is to go through the alphabet as far as you can go: Awesome, Beloved, Caring, Deliverer, Encourager, Faithful, etc.
C is for Confess.
This where we ask Him to search our hearts and reveal anything grievous to Him.2 Confess those things, and believe He will forgive you. You can can also take it a step further and ask Him to reveal anyone you need to confess a wrong toward, and first ask His forgiveness before going to the source.3
T is for Thanksgiving.
If you’re in a good head space, this will flow. If you’re in a funk, it can be a bit harder. In our brokenness, we can miss His goodness - I do it a lot more than I wish I did. Soo if/when you’re in said funk, I was taught to go back through the day before and thank Him for all the places He showed up.
This can be as simple as the green light you made to get to your appointment and/or the miracle of watching your 2 year old taste (albeit spit out) a piece of grilled fish for the first time. He is in the details! Nothing is too silly or trivial to thank Him for…4
The mundane is full of places to be grateful!
S is for Supplication:
Reveal to Him the desires of our heart because He cares about them!5 Ask away. Praying over our needs is not selfish, but I do find that after going through this acronym, He almost always realigns my heart to rightly present my requests.
Cry out to Him! Tell Him your hard!6 He can handle it all. Let Him take it, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light.7
In Jesus Name
If you are in Christ, we are instructed to close our prayer with In Jesus Name I pray.8 This is because Jesus is the reason we have an open line to God. It is because of His sacrifice and resurrection we can communicate freely with the God of all creation! When we ask in Jesus Name, we are asking in the character of God.
The Lord’s Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer is also an excellent guide in how to pray!9
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name (Admiration)
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Admiration)
Give us this day our daily bread (Supplication)
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us (Confess)
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (Supplication)
For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever and ever (Admiration)
Amen.
Last Thing…
Can I pray for you real quick before you go? And as a THANK YOU for getting this far ;)
Father God, thank you for the sweet soul reading this post. You are most high, sovereign King of the universe and it is not by accident you led him or her here. We are sinners God, we fall short of your glory daily. Without your grace, we are nothing. Thank you for your forgiveness in Jesus, available to all who believe He came, died and rose again! Thank you for the person reading this Lord. I ask your blessing over their families, over their heart’s desires, over the pain points in their lives. Father go before and behind them, and let your name be known in their lives! In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.
Verses referenced herein for further study:
Psalm 18:1-3
Psalm 129:23-24
Matthew 5:23-24
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Psalm 37:4
1 Peter 5:7
Matthew 11:28-30
John 14:13
Matthew 6:9-13
Ephesians 6:18
Romans 8:26
1 Thessalonians 5:17