Prayer can be overwhelming or even confusing to religious people. You might say to yourself: What shall I say? How do I start? Am I praying the “right way”?
And you are not the only one, as you must have found yourself in a condition where you could not come up with the right words in praying. New Christians and experienced Christians are seeking the plain straightforward outline to enable them to spend time with God.
Here is where the ACTS Prayer Model enters a test proven, biblically grounded model, which can help you to associate with God in an effective, balanced way.
The ACTS model of prayer step by step with practical examples, bible teachings and life examples of this model that will greatly transform your spiritual life irrespective of where to live in London or New York.
What Is the ACTS Prayer Model?
This is a simple acronym that is an abbreviation of the ACTS prayer model.
A — Adoration
C — Confession
T — Thanksgiving
S — Supplication
Each of the letters represents a valuable element of prayer that brings concentration, balance, and spirituality.
It is not a rigid formula for this plan, it is a guide, which will help you to talk to God in a natural, personal and powerful way. Almost all pastors, churches and Christian educators propose that individuals employ ACTS due to the reality that this kind of prayer is equivalent to the form of prayers which are presented in the bible.
Why the ACTS Prayer Model Matters
Prayer involves more than asking but it involves relationships. The ACTS model will have you question:
First, not only your needs, but focus on God.
Admit through accepting your needs.
Glory to Him due to His blessings.
Be humble and have faith with your desire.
This model contributes to the bringing of spiritual order and peace to the day to day life in a world where people appear to be distracted and stressed by those who are busy in life in the UK and the USA.
We hope that God is glorified as He is and that we are prepared to offer our prayers to Him as He pleases.
The first A is Adoration and all great prayers begin with Adoration.
Instead of immersing oneself in petitions, one worships God due to his personality: the love, the power, the mercy and the holiness and faithfulness.
How to Pray in Adoration
Fanciful of worshipping as a sign of awe and reverence. You can say things like:
“Lord, You are holy and mighty.”
I praise you God in my love that cannot falter.
Thou my refuge, my hold and my nourishment.
Bible Verses for Adoration
Far is the Lord and very significant to be glorified. — Psalm 145:3
Come we will worship him, we will bow down before the Lord our Maker. — Psalm 95:6
Practical Tip
Create a short “praise list.” What are some of the attributes of God that you would praise on i.e. His kindness, perseverance and prudence. It is by considering these you are putting your heart in the right place before prayer.
Confession – Purification of Heart.
Then there is adoration and the other follows that is confession or the acknowledgment of our sins and requesting forgiveness.
In Sacrament, the religious junk that comes between you and God is cleansed. It is not a matter of guilt and shame, but it is a matter of restoration and rejuvenation.
How to Confess in Prayer
You might pray:
Father I am sorry I am so impatient to-day.
Lord, I say to myself, that I have been anxious not thinking of you.
And excuse me that I have forgotten to take time with You.
True confession is a gateway to redemption and freedom.
Bible Verses for Confession
We repent our sins, he is true and fair to forgive our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. -1 John 1: 9.
Cleanse me O God: cleanse me spirit. — Psalm 51:10
Why Confession Matters
Regular confession helps:
Remove guilt and anxiety.
Improve your intimacy with God.
Learn to be humble and self aware.
Confession also enhances our relationship with God as we do the same in the relationship by apologizing.
Thanksgiving – Praise of the Goodness of God.
The T of the ACTS model implies Thanksgiving – being grateful to everything that is done by God.
You switch your thinking to think about what is there rather than what is not, when you thank God. Gratitude brings about satisfaction, happiness and spiritual enlightenment.
Words to Express Thanksgiving.
Thanks, father, thanks to prayers.
Family, health, safe home, work or education are some of the blessings that one should count every day.
know the spiritual blessings – salvation, peace, hope, and grace.
Thanksgiving Garba Sampler.
Lord, thank You I made another week. Oh, Thank You, brother, Thank You, my home, And the roof above me; And the peace that You bring me, Vision of every day.
The bible verses regarding Thanksgiving.
Glory to God and He is good; His love is everlasting. — Psalm 107:1
This, thank God, is the will of God in Christ Jesus in all things.
ACTS Prayer Model : Practical Tip
Start a gratitude journal. Write 3 things that you are grateful about every day. In the course of time, you will find out how much God is involved in your life even concerning minor things.
Supplication -Asking to get your needs and those of other people.
Supplication – bringing your demands and those of other people to God.
Praying does not consist of asking things but relying on the wisdom and timing of God.
There are two types:
Self requests (on behalf of yourself)
Intercession (representation of other people).
Praying in supplication and manners.
You might say:
Oh, Lord, bless me, make a good judgment to-day.
Listen to me, comfort my ill companion.
The same to my children, lead and guard.
Bible Verses regarding Supplication.
Fear not any thing, but through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving have thy will made known unto God. — Philippians 4:6
Ask and thou shalt have, seek and thou shalt find, knock and the door will be opened to thee. — Matthew 7:7
ACTS Prayer Model : Pro Tip
Pray especially– not Lord, bless me, but Lord, help me in my job-searching. Specific prayers will lead to specific reactions.
Practicing It All Together: ACTS Prayer Model
A complete ACTS prayer sounds like the following:
Adoration:
Father, he has sacred love and power. There’s none like you.”
Confession:
I am recognizing that I have been in a rush, and easily irritated. Please forgive me.”
Thanksgiving:
Thank You, my family, and your everlasting care, and the blessings I fail to acknowledge God.
Supplication:
forgive and grant me an increase in patience and in wisdom. Protect my loved ones and bury me in my business.
Nothing but simple, natural and balanced this is the power of the ACTS prayer model.
ACTS Prayer Model is helpful in the following aspects.
The routine of taking the ACTS will assist you in transforming your praying life in a major way.
Acquires Spiritual Discipline.
The reason this is so is that a structure enables you to pray more, and with a purpose.
Makes Your Relationship with God Better.
You will know how to focus on God, instead of what He can cause to you.
Brings Emotional Peace
The negative feelings like guilt, fear or worry find an outlet in the confession and acknowledgment.
Improves Focus in Prayer
It’s easy to get distracted. ACTS will get your mind straight and heart at work.
Inspires Petition on behalf of others.
Supplication makes you keep in mind that you have to give care to the needs of others as it then makes you to be compassionate and empathetic.
Families and ChildrenACTS Model.
It is not only applicable to adults but the ACTS model is a great way of demonstrating to children how to pray.
For example:
Praise: God thou hast done great things, mighty things.
Confession: I am sorry that I was rude with my sister.
Thanks, friends, my toys: Thanksgiving.
Request: “Grandma, please do not feel better.
At an early age, children are taught the spirit of prayer by making it simple.
How to Use ACTS in Daily Life
The following are some of the practical ways of applying ACTS in your day:
Morning Routine
Put on some prayer songs before starting your day around 5 minutes or so will suffice to create the atmosphere of gratitude and calm.
Journaling
Put your prayers in writing using ACTS. It helps to track spiritual growth and prayers answered.
Group or Church Prayers
Use ACTS during group prayer sessions – it takes the form of keeping the group on track and in step.
During Stress or Anxiety
When overwhelmed, put on the breaks and run through ACTS in your mind and your heart will be calmed within a second.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
It is not hard to fall into the following traps with such a good model:
hurry-hurrah– Prison– Forget it, you know it can do you no good.
Focus on Supplication Only- Do not leave out adoration and thanksgiving.
Repeat Without Meaning Speak not read.
Failure to confess You may be paralyzed by unconfessed sin.
Remember: ACTS is not a script so it is just a guide. Be real with God.
Product Strategy Bible Actions C Tests Model of prayer.
The acronym in itself is not ancient; yet the building is repeated hundreds of times in Scripture.
See The Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:9-13):
Glory: Our fathers who are in heaven, blessed be thy name.
Confession & Submission: Forgive us our debts…
Thanksgiving (implicated by trust)
Prayer: Hearken on this day our daily bread… save us evil.
The teaching of Jesus on the model of prayer is in line with the teachings of the ACTS model.
Adjustment of the ACTS Model to other religions.
The Christians all around the world use them, and they have Anglican churches in the UK, Baptist and non-denomination churches in the USA.
The character of the model of praise, humility, gratitude and trust has the capability to inspire any individual who desires to possess spiritual balance regardless of the denomination and tradition.
Conclusion: The Secret of an Effective Life of Prayer.
The ACTS is not only an acronym, but a means of coming nearer to God.
Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication are the means by which you will create a balanced prayer life that can only be founded on worship, humility, gratitude and trust.
The ACTS model is understandable, serene and spiritually evolving regardless of being a new believer who needs direction or an old Christian who wants to spread his or her religion.
And there is this, which you must not forget next time you are praying:
Praise, confession and gratitude and trust are the things that should start, go on and end respectively.
Beau! and simple is ACTS That is an age-old mechanism to speak to God in the heart.
Frequently Asked Questions of ACTS Prayer Model.
How many minutes is an ACTS prayer?
There’s no fixed length. It could be 5 minutes or 30. It is not time but all about honesty.
Can we add other variables in the model?
Absolutely. The majority of them add the final phase, which is Listening, and take time to listen to God.
Am I bound really to take the order?
No, it is the order, which will only help to produce a flow of naturalness, beginning with God and ending with your needs.
Can ACTS be used on written prayers or journals?
Acts Yes, jotting down ACTS prayers can improve the meditations and make you feel the response that God gives in the long run.
