Living Lessons on PrayerSample

Our intimacy with Christ grows as we learn how to pray. Today, let’s look at a more structured form of prayer in which we sit down in a quiet place with our Bible and some kind of journal or notebook in which to keep track of our concerns and prayers.

My first prayer journal was a notebook broken down into sections designed to help a person write down what they wanted to pray about in different categories such as, family, government, church, career, and finances. The sections helped me think about who I could be praying about as I talked to Jesus. When I learned how to write down my concerns and pray specifically for people instead of just saying, “Bless ________, Lord”, I began to realize that God did answer because I could look back at what I had written down and see how and when God answered the concern. For me, and for many others, using a journal to write down what I've mentioned to God has helped me remember, and then celebrate, when I see His answers to my prayers. Having a written record of answers has helped me grow in confidence that He hears me, and has encouraged more intimacy with Him.1 

While there are many great prayer plans out there that you can purchase to help you get started, one easy one I would like to share with you is the acronym ACTS.2 You can use the ACTS acronym as a guide whether you write down your prayers or speak them.

Adoration: saying what's true and good about God back to him.

Example: "Father, You, are merciful and full of grace. You are kind and loving. You love us just as we are while You see what You can do to help us grow."

Confession: checking to see if there is anything we are not obeying or that we are doing that needs changing and then asking God's forgiveness.

Example: "Father, I confess that right now I don’t feel much like praying. I am upset with ______. There are problems at work and people that are hard to get along with. I know my attitude is not good. I ask You to forgive me and show me how You want to work in these situations."

Thanksgiving: showing gratitude for what God has done and continues to do for us and the world. 

Example: "Father, I thank You for Your grace and mercy and Your provision. I thank You for my health and the health of my family. I thank You that we have food and shelter. I thank You, Jesus, for dying on the Cross for us." 

Supplication: ask God for what we need, what we want Him to do for us and others.

Example: "Father, I lift up my friend ________ to You. She is hurting right now because of her divorce. I ask You to comfort her and show her the way through."

Application:

In this more structured form of prayer, be as specific as you can when you pray. Find a place to write down what you want God to do, who you are talking to Him about and your concerns. Then you will be more likely to notice the answers. Now and then, go back over what you have talked about to God and write down the answers, thanking Him for His faithfulness and care.

1 There are many places to purchase journals in which to write down your prayers to God.

2 I first heard about ACTS as a way to pray back in the 70’s. I never knew who came up with it, but when checking online I found a book by E. W. Price, Jr.; ACTS in Prayer; B&H Publishing Group, 1974. Since this book is so old, I assume it is the origin.