The Importance of Prayer - A.C.T.S.
Do you find it easy to pray? Well, I would like to share some pointers that may help you in your prayer life.
It is ACTS.
1.Adoration. Start off your prayer life by giving adoration to God. You might mention his power, glory, majesty, holiness, give him honor and praise that he deserves.
2. Confession. Spend time confessing your sins before God. Doing this will help you realize that you need God and that you make mistakes and sin. It will help you in your walk with God as well according to 1 John 1.
3.Thanksgiving. Thank God for all the many blessings that he has blessed your life with both physical and spiritual. God wants to hear us as Christians telling him thank you. Just like a father loves it when a child says thanks you.
4.Supplication. Ask God for what you need in your life. It may be physical or spiritual. Yes, God knows what we need but he wants to hear it from us as his children. So, please ask God who is the provider and the gracious giver.
I have found it beneficial to journal prayers. In journaling prayer you can go back and see what God has done in your life and see the prayers that God has answered.
I want you to understand that God so desperately wants to hear from us and the greatest thing about it is that we can pray to God any time day or night; 24/7. He cares and is always listening. If, you neglect your prayer time with God you will find your self burned out and dry. I have been there and it is no place for an Christian to be but one thing I found that praying to him renewed my soul. I prayed that prayer in ICU and my relationship with God has never been the same.
So, how is your prayer life? Do you pray only when you need something? Do you pray only when problems come? Elders do you go to the hospital and pray for the sick to be healed? As ministers do you take the time to pay as you should? Have you prayed today? How long has it been? My challenge is for us as Christians is let us not forsake our prayer time with God.
What do you think?
Share your thoughts.
posted by preacherman @ 10:24:00 PM
50 Comments:
Great reminder, preacherman. I use the ACTS model often when teaching on prayer as well as when I am spending time in my prayer closet. Journaling is really helpful, too, although I don't practice it as religiously as I'd like to.
Benjie,
Thanks for your comments.
I appeciate it.
I hope you have a blessed weekend.
ACTS has totally changed the way I pray to God and my relationship with Him.
AWESome post !
Thanks
may U and yours have a very blessed weekend!
Jel,
Thanks.
I hope you have a great weekend as well.
I recon we all could pray more... unless of course you were in a constant state of prayer say like talking to God all the time.
Telling Him jokes.
Telling Him things BEFORE you told anyone else.
Telling Him everything, all the time...
That would be nice.
Course folks would think you were strange and wonder who you were talking to and why you just laughed out loud or said thanks or so that's what you're gonna do huh, or argued, or yelled or got mad at ? and other such outbursts.... then you might be praying a good deal.
Preacherman,
I have been searching for the past month on how to make my prayer life better. I'm been in a valley and struggling. Thank you, thank you, thank you for the info. Pray for me!
Monalea
Thanks preacherman,
That is a good reminder of the ACTS acronym for prayer that I also learned many years ago. It has inspired me to do a similar one on my blog. I think I will go do that right now. But first, I am going to go pray. Thanks again for the reminder.
Blessings.
AW,
Thanks for your comments.
Monalea,
I will keep you in my prayers and I hope the ACTS helps you.
Gord,
I appreciate your comments and it is wonderful how ACTS has affected so many in their relationship with GOd. Can you let my bloggers know what month you did your post on ACTS so they can enjoy? Again, thanks. I'm too, am going to go pray. :-)
The Gospel reading I'll be hearing tomorrow (Luke 17:11-19) reminds us of the necessity of prayers of thanksgiving after prayers of supplication!
The ten lepers beg Jesus to show them mercy (or pity, depending on the translation). Only one of them returns to praise God for the miraculous healing. How often do we pray and pray and pray for something, only to be content with receiving it? Perhaps we need to learn to spend as much prayer time in thanksgiving as we do in petition.
"[Jesus] was angry with the others as ungrateful, because they did not acknowledge their Deliverer, but thought more of the cure of the leprosy than of Him who healed them." (St. Athanasius, Letter VI:3, for Easter AD 334)
i agree that we should pray, mainly
because we are told to pray
and since we belong to God
we should obey
we are told to do what is best for us... there are many reasons why it is best for us. God has good reasons and one of them is that He is LOve...and He loves us.
but, don't we just hate to do what is best? don't we just want it to be about us, our idea, our life, our time? while God waits for us to come to Him.
this is an interesting model. who thought up and wrote out this model?
what about praying in the Spirit?
can't anyone go to the hospital and pray for someone to be healed?
are those that are called misisters in need of praying any more than other Christians?
we can encourage our brother's and sister's to pray,
we can encourage each other to obey,
and we can encourage each other to show our respect and love for God,
but, we must actually do it ourselves
we can lead a person to the living water, but, we can not make them drink.
we can tell them why, how, when, if, where. we can twist their arms, their legs, ask them to neel and stand, sing the song and say some words.
but, it has to come from the heart.
from the heart.
a change of heart.
the Spirit must change our heart.
preacherman...
I did my post on prayer today. here is the link...
http://anonymousdiscipleship.blogspot.com/2007/10/is-prayer-important.html
It mentions your ACTS post but mine is based on JOY.
Visit and let me know what you think.
If we put ACTS and JOY together, we will get an amazing prayer life.
Blessings!
are you kidding me..my day is one unending prayer of thanks so much and help me and i'm sorry..
Japhy,
You make a great point that we need to ask for certian needs to be met and when those needs are met to rejoice and be thankful. I want to thank you for point that out. Thanks for you great comments.
Gord,
Thanks for the link it was great and I would like to encourage everyone who has read this blog to check out his as well. He has a lot of great things to say. Thanks again for the information on your post and blog. I appreciate you giving the link.
Nancy,
Thanks for you comments.
I appreciation.
You make great points.
Beverly,
I want to thank you for reminding us that we to pray without ceasing. You make an excellent point sister. I apprecaite it so very much.
Preacherman,
Thanks for the reminder -- it's so important. My prayer life stinks for the most part. I do pray, but not with any regularity or consistency.
I do try to practice "pray without ceasing" throughout the day, but most of the time I drift ...
For some reason, I've never been able to get into prayer as much as I can get into Bible study or other disciplines.
I'd like to change.
Good reminders to open our talks with God with thankfulness, always.
I don't really follow a formula, I guess, Preacherman.
I find myself constantly talking to Him, all day. . .the ebb and flow of thanking Him, asking for help, asking Him to bless some soul who catches my eye, asking Him to forgive me.
I make handmade prayer boxes to keep the major prayers in; to see how He has chosen to respond.
Thanks PM!
have a great day!
My prayer life is only easy when I'm in crisis. That's when the curtain rolls back on the world around me and I painfully remember exactly what's going on and Who's in charge.
Other times, my prayer life is usually what Richard Foster calls it: a discipline. It often brings joy, new wisdom, peace, contentment, resolution, and a greater intimacy with God. But it's always a discipline.
ACTS is a great model that I've used over the years. I've also used the Lord's Prayer as a wide outline and guide, as well as Ken Boa's excellent book on incorporating Scripture into our prayer lives (incidentally, organized around a model very similar to ACTS.
Good post!
I have a prayer request for everyone.
I went to the Dr. today and he removed a cyst. It was near my spinal cord about 2 1/2 inches in diameter. I also have been suffering from pain in my hands and feet from GBS. So, he has given me Lyrica for the pain in my nerves. Lyrica has been very successful in those who have had GBS. Pray that it will work with the pain that I have been having. Pray that pain will end. Pray for my wife for the next few weeks who has to pack the my back, deal with the boys, go to school which is 70 miles one way on tues/thurs day. Pray that God will give her strength. Pray that my family will be able to cope and have the strength to deal with my difficulties. Pray that I will still be effective father, husband and minister. I appreciate your prayers.
Thank you.
So I may not be blogging as much as I need to recover and get my strength back. I love everyone and don't worry, I will be back.
In Him,
Kinney Mabry
Will BE Friend!
blessings!
I've seen that acronym before, but I don't remember where. It is very useful.
Hi preacherman,
Sorry to hear of your problem. I will pray for you.
Sometimes I hear people talk about prayer as though prayer is the fourth person in the Trinity. I appreciate your focus on our relationship with God. Praying is all about experiencing that relationship, and depending on God.
Thanks for the post, bro. Sorry to hear about the ongoing medical challenges, but you'll be in my prayers.
Still looking forward to seeing you next time we're in Texas.
My prayer life doesn't always feel like it should. I like the idea of writing them down.
I am adding you to my prayer journal...
You are absolutely right about prayer. I don't write it down though I pray all the time. It is one of the many blessings we have, to be able to talk with our Heavenly Father as we can no one else. There is not one person alive who knows everything about everyone, we don't tell them everything because it would just simply be impossible. But God know everything without us having to explain or withoutus having to try and recall events. And, the best thing is, He has forgiven us of all wrongs (assuming we've repented) and knows absolutely everything there is to know about us...and He STILL LOVES US!!! He is like no other!! Prayer allows us to talk like we talk to no other. And isn't it wonderful indeed?!
If anyone has a prayer request they would like on my "Ladies Bible Study" all you have to do is come by and ask. Your sisters and brothers (who do visit)will be only too happy to add you to their prayers. God hears our prayers. Praise Him, confess your sins, thank Him and make your requests know to Him. He will answer according to His will.
In Christian love to all,
Tammy Snyder
http://ladiesbiblestudycoc.blogspot.com .
Preacherman,
I am teaching a ladies class right now and we use that model and a prayer journal! I also use a prayer calendar. I found that it helps me really focus on my prayers for specific people. For instance on Sundays, I always pray for the church and its leaders. On Mondays I pray for Ned and I and our ministry, our marriage, our health, etc. It goes on and on I am sure you get the picture. It really helped me become a more prayerful person. BTW on Wednesdays, I not only pray for my Sunset School of Preaching class but also for my friends in the blogworld.
Peace
neva
Christ's church scattered around Frankfort, Lawrenceburg, and Shelbyville KY right now is praying for you, Kinney. I learned ACTS from Philip Yancey's recent book on prayer, and it changed my public prayer life. Thank you for reminding me of it.
in HIS love,
Nick Gill
Thank you for this post. It was very helpful.
I will keep you in my prayers
Calfkeeper
keep on praying!
praying
keep on
you are more effective than you know
more than you know.
trust in God
trust
***********************************
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you prosperity.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. [a]
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
from proverbs 3
Kinney let's work for the children
Preacherman,
I am praying for you and for your family. I understand constant pain. Lyrica is supposed to be very, very good for stubborn nerve pain. I'm so sorry you suffer with this.
Let us know how you are.
I still come by and read Preacherman.
You are in my prayers.
Morning Friend!
May U have a restful weekend!
may this day be a blessing to U and your family!
When my prayer life is lacking, it changes my whole life. Although busyness can sometimes get in the way of reading time, I try to never let a day go by without prayer. I also like to just talk to God throughout my day in prayer like a friend about the things going on through the day or little thank you prayers when things just turn out right. It's a great way to you keep your focus in the right place. Blessings!
i think that i am glad for the Grace of God because there is such a struggle to do what is best for me.
I am still in extreme nerve pain and pain from surgery. The pain from the nerves starting to work from Lyrica that the doctor has given me. I want to thank you for praying for me. I have wonderful church family who love my family and I very much. One of the men was will to teach Wed. and from what I hear did a fantastic job on Covenants. My, Dad is going to be coming down this weekend and preaching for me on Sunday morning. I will will be giving the lesson Sunday night Lord willing. If not one of the men has volunteered to give the message. The love that this church has shown and continues to show each other as well as us through difficult times is wonderful.
Also, we have some news in our town if you have been keeping up with the Texas 3. Gilmer Hernandez is finally home! :-)
You can check his website at:
http//:www.freegilmer.com
Again thank you for your prayers during my illness and understanding. I greatly appreciate it.
I'm praying for you. I hope your health improves soon.
I use this little acts helper all the time for public prayers. I like it.
Kinney -
Let me add my prayers for your better health today. Whenever I think of you I pray for you and will continue to do so.
Thanks for this post on prayer. I will try that model along with the ways I am already praying.
I am SO sorry you are having such severe pain and really hope the medication you are taking will help you. I thank God for all of the help that you do receive and I also pray for strength for your wife. I can't begin to imagine how difficult your lives must be right now, but will turn it all over to God our Father.
Cheers & Blessings to you all today! Dee
of Finding Direction: The Wind Vane Chronicles
I want to thank everyone for keeping me in their prayers it means so much to me. I have some good news. Since the Dr. put me on Lyrica the sensation in my feet have come back. I took off my shoes on thursday it was like the feeling of taking off your shoes and steping on new carpet. I walked around the house with no pain. My feet felt so good I walk around bare footed the rest of the day, even went outside and stepped on a sticker. :-)!
I still have pain in my legs, arms, hands, back, and having migraines, noises bother me real easy. Please, please continue to keep me in your prayers as I continue to heal and as God answers prayers. God is so good. I think Him every day for all has done all that he continues to do in my life.
WooHoo!
that is good news PM,
keep on keeping on! :)
and thank U!!
Jel,
Yes. Great news!
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