The A.C.T.S. of Prayer

What is prayer?

How should a person pray?

Is there even a correct way to pray?

Each person's prayer style is unique to that individual. Perhaps the term "prayer" means different things to different people. While watching the news one might hear a person say, “All we can do now is pray.” This would be a prayer of need and humility recognizing that someone is powerless to change a situation. Others might take a more traditional view of prayer such as an older silver haired gentleman standing in front of his church reciting an almost rote prayer complete with “thee” and “thy” as if he lived in the time of King James himself. His prayer is full of reverence and honor for God. Still others might speak to God as if God were a close friend, more of a conversational approach.

It is interesting to note the different ways and styles that people look to the Father though prayer. What is more interesting, perhaps amazing even, is that God hears all of these styles and responds to each one in a specific way. God can be a person’s helper and healer, a person’s strong almighty Father, and a person’s friend depending on what that person needs at that particular time. As we live our lives and we change from one season of life to the next, we need God in different ways. We grow and mature physically and so does our faith. It would almost seem strange to us to hear a 50 year old praying the same prayer as a 3 year old. God can respond to each season of life and each person uniquely, however.

It is important to remember that communication with God is a privilege, a gift that God has given humanity to be able to approach Him with anything and have the confidence that He can handle it. It is easy at times to get into a rut of prayer. One rut that is easy to fall into is that of only talking to God when times are tough or when a need arises. Some call this a “Genie in a Bottle Prayer.” God is looked at as a genie that is there to grant his people’s wishes and the people in turn look at prayer as rubbing the lamp to get the genie to pop out. While God does invite his people to ask him for their needs and wants, solely praying this type of prayer shows immaturity and perhaps even selfishness. Suppose a person had a friend who only called or came to visit when he or she wanted something. That relationship would be viewed as somewhat shallow. So it is with our relationship with God.

One way that a person can begin to form a more “balanced” prayer life and begin to be more conversational with God is to use a prayer model. THE A.C.T.S. model is widely known and used and may be helpful when trying to begin to pray in different ways.

“A” stands for Adoration. This is the time in the prayer when a person wants to praise God simply for who God is. “God you are mighty, holy, and all knowing,” is an example of a prayer of adoration. This is a time when the person praying can address God in any way he or she feels inclined to do. If a person has experienced God as “Father” then he or she might wish to praise God in that way. If God has recently helped a person overcome a struggle in his or her life then he or she might wish to praise and adore God as helper and healer.

“C” stands for Confession. So often with confession a person might get caught up in beating themselves up spiritually or emotionally. This is not what confession is for. Confession is a person’s time for owning what he or she has done. “God, I really blew it this time when I lied to my manager at work to get out of trouble,” is an example of confession. Oftentimes, churches view confession as punishment. A person must confess and then take the beating that he or she has coming to him or her. This is not what scripture teaches about confession, however. Just as a child is taught honesty and owning up to his or her mistakes, so to God wants each child of his to take responsibilities for deeds done wrong.

“T” stands for Thanksgiving. One of the most commonly forgotten parts of prayer might be thanksgiving. A person might pray and pray fervently for a need and then when God fulfills that need, that person forgets to go back and thank God for his intervention. God wants each of his children to be grateful for the gifts He has provided. Thanksgiving should be a central part of each person’s prayer life.

“S” stands for Supplication. Supplication simply means asking God for what is needed. As stated earlier, God wants each person to come to Him and in humility admit that he or she is not strong enough to deal with life in isolation. Each person needs God’s intervention at times throughout life to simply go on. Whether it is a concern over a medical problem, a child who has made a poor decision, or a job loss, God wants his people to ask Him for help.

God is a God that lives in and has walked among His people. He is a God of relationships and of connection. Prayer is certainly the easiest and most natural ways of communicating with the Creator. Through petition and supplication, thanksgiving, confession, and adoration, each person’s connection is secure knowing that God hears each and every one.