Many will say that prayer is like having a conversation with a friend. In truth, that is what God wants of us, but many persons struggle to pray as they worry about the words to say, the posture to use, the best time of the day to pray, how often to do it, and various other technicalities. God wants to hear from his people, and prayer is one of the main ways that we can use to communicate with Him. We are happy for the privilege of using our blog section to share with you some simple steps for praying that will surely help to improve your prayer life.
In Philippians 4: 6, we read,” Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” This is such a beautiful invitation, especially amidst the chaos of our lives. God is asking us to bring every concern and every supplication to him in prayer, with thanksgiving. He wants to grant us the desires of our heart, but first, we have to pray.
Here are three simple steps that we can follow as we pray:
Step 1: Use the acronym A.C.T.S
There is a popular acronym that is recommended as a format for our prayers. It is called A.C.T.S, and it means, Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Each prayer should include all of these elements:
Adoration
Acknowledge the power and the sovereignty of the God to whom you are praying. As you humbly enter his presence, you can list his characteristics as you exalt his name. Demonstrate reverence for his mighty acts. Jeremiah expressed his adoration of God in these verses: “But God made the earth by his power, and he preserves it by his wisdom. With his own understanding, he stretched out the heavens. When he speaks in the thunder, the heavens roar with rain. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses.” (Jeremiah 10:12-13) We serve a mighty God, and as we pray, we should pause to praise him and honor him, as He is Lord over all.
Confession
As we enter God’s presence through prayer, we will feel unworthy. As we list his attributes in awe and express adoration for him, we will feel sinful and ashamed of what we have done or said to dishonor this mighty God. Confess these sins to God. Name them and admit that you have erred, but you are sorry. Ask God to forgive you and to cleanse you from all sinful acts. 1 John 1:9 assures us, “ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Confess and repent, and God will forgive and cleanse.
Thanksgiving
Give God thanks for the many blessings that he has afforded us. Thank him for his faithfulness and his provisions. Thank him for life and for his protection and his mercies that are new every morning. Thank him for answered prayers and victorious testimonies. Thank him for the privilege of prayer. The list of things in the world for which you can express thankfulness is endless. As you seek to develop an attitude of gratitude, you will realize that God’s goodness endures forever. In Psalm 35:18, David declared: “I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people.” Verbalize your gratitude to God; He deserves our praise.
Supplication
Make your requests known to God. Do not be ashamed to seek God’s help and his divine intervention. Through John 14:13, Jesus assures us, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” Be specific and bold with your requests. When we are specific, God will honor your prayers as it will be evident that He is the one who granted your request, and his name will be glorified. We are invited to come boldly to the throne of grace, so feel free to make your requests known. Nothing is too small or insignificant for God; if it matters to you, then he will hear and answer your supplications.
Step 2: Pray Scriptural Promises and Blessings
God speaks to us through Scripture, and there is no easier way to pray than to use God’s own Word in your dialogue with him. As you pray, you name the answer to your prayer through God’s promises. Instead of saying, “Lord, I am hungry, please provide for me,” you can say,” Lord, you promised that you would supply all my needs according to your riches in glory, and I am claiming that promise today.” What a difference that will make! God wants us to pray in his will, and his will is revealed through his Word. Call him out on his promises. When you focus on the answers to your prayer as He promised, your faith will be activated, which brings us to the final step.
Step 3: Immerse your prayers in faith
As you pray and you follow all the steps outlined, you must believe that God is able and will accept and answer your prayer. Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Faith is the condition on which we receive those things for which we pray. When you pray, block out all thoughts of fear and doubt, and speak to God with the confidence that he will answer your prayers. As you name your supplications, you accept in advance that God has already granted your requests. Do not worry about the quantity of your faith as Jesus declared that faith, even the size of a mustard seed, is mountain-moving faith. Just focus on believing that God will keep his word and he will act on his promises.
Prayer is not as complicated as it is made out to be. Master the format using the A.C.T.S acronym, claim the promises and blessings of God’s word, and exercise faith in the Sovereign one, and you will be well on your way to spirit-filled prayer life. And if you ever need a daily inspiration, make sure to check out new Amen App and our daily prayer's section.