ACTS Prayer

Week 1 – Prayer Closet

Practicing private, intentional prayer

Prayer Practice: ACTS Prayer

Day 3, Tuesday, January 6

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
- Psalm 100:4

There’s a biblical precedence for beginning prayer with Praise/Adoration. Jesus even modeled it in the Lord’s Prayer from yesterday’s prayer practice. Today we’ll learn an easy acronym for organizing our time in prayer. In fact, you may already know it. It’s a great tool to guide your time in your prayer closet with the Lord.

How to Practice

Find your prayer closet and take a moment to collect and ready yourself in His presence. Move through each part of ACTS slowly, without rushing.

Adoration
Begin by praising God for who He is. Focus on His character, His faithfulness, and His goodness. You might consider using Psalm 100 or the language of scripture to guide your praise.

Confession
Take time to be honest before God. Confess your sins and shortcomings, trusting in His mercy and forgiveness. You might consider using Psalm 139 or Psalm 51 to guide your confession.

Thanksgiving
If adoration was praising God for who He is, Thanksgiving is offering gratitude to God for what He has done and what He has given. Name specific gifts, provisions, and moments of grace in your life.

Supplication
Bring your requests before God—both for yourself and for others. Don’t fall into the trap of making a “honey-do” list for the Lord. Slow down and ask with humility and dependence, trusting in the Lord as a son or daughter coming to our Heavenly Father.

A Gentle Reminder

Prayer doesn’t need to be eloquent to be faithful. God is not impressed by polished words, but He delights in honest hearts that come to Him with trust and humility.