Last week, I mentioned the first part of the ACTS structure of prayer, which is adoration. Today, I want to mention the second part, which is confession. Confession has a place in public worship, where confession is made in a corporate sense.
In addition, it can be used as a part of prayer- anytime and anywhere. If we have been adoring and praising God at the opening of our prayer, then we can in humility confess our sin. This confessing also helps to establish our relationship with God after giving praise. We then remove any pride we might have in ourselves.
In my own prayer life, this part of praying usually entails what has been done in the last 24 hours that has been sin. Of course, I realize it is only those things for which I am aware, though there are many other sins.
Confession helps us to experience the forgiveness that comes from God. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. " 1 John 1:9
How much confessing do you do in your own prayer life? Might it be worthwhile to implement it more in your prayers?
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Prayer Structure
What's all included in your prayers? Is it just asking in order to get out of a tight situation? Or is there more to your praying?
Beginning with this posting, I want to cover four facets of prayer. They are known under the acronym of ACTS, which stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.
The first one is "adoration." When you begin prayer, do you spend some time simply adoring God? By beginning prayer in this way, you are acknowledging the greatness of God. You are making clear that one you are addressing is your Creator and the one who has given you all good things. You will realize that receiving an answer for your prayer comes from someone you admire.
I believe that when we fail to have any adoration for God in our praying, we see our activity of praying just as being transactional: we pray and God answers. We do the minimum necessary in order to get from God what we want.
When we do include adoration, we notice that the relationship to God is just as important as our asking. We show our reverence and respect for God.
The next time you are praying, if you don't already do it, spend some time giving praise to God for who God is. I guarantee you, you will feel better as you conclude your prayer.
Beginning with this posting, I want to cover four facets of prayer. They are known under the acronym of ACTS, which stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.
The first one is "adoration." When you begin prayer, do you spend some time simply adoring God? By beginning prayer in this way, you are acknowledging the greatness of God. You are making clear that one you are addressing is your Creator and the one who has given you all good things. You will realize that receiving an answer for your prayer comes from someone you admire.
I believe that when we fail to have any adoration for God in our praying, we see our activity of praying just as being transactional: we pray and God answers. We do the minimum necessary in order to get from God what we want.
When we do include adoration, we notice that the relationship to God is just as important as our asking. We show our reverence and respect for God.
The next time you are praying, if you don't already do it, spend some time giving praise to God for who God is. I guarantee you, you will feel better as you conclude your prayer.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Where Do You Pray?
The title of this posting might sound inconsequential; however, it can have us look at not only where we pray but also how often we pray.
When I pray in the morning, I have a set place in my living room following breakfast where I read Scripture and have that followed by prayer. I feel most comfortable there.
Having a designated place at home for prayer might help you to concentrate and focus your thoughts. You might consider that where you are is a "sacred place."
We also know that it doesn't matter where we pray. Our prayers will still be heard by God. But knowing that we are free to pray anywhere, the question is: How spontaneous are you with your praying? Do you feel that you have to wait until the end of the day to pray for a pressing concern that developed that day? Do you feel that you can give thanks on the spot when you have received a blessing?
Are you willing to pray in the car (not driving, of course) or just out for a walk?
The main thing is that in prayer you feel connected to God throughout the day.
When I pray in the morning, I have a set place in my living room following breakfast where I read Scripture and have that followed by prayer. I feel most comfortable there.
Having a designated place at home for prayer might help you to concentrate and focus your thoughts. You might consider that where you are is a "sacred place."
We also know that it doesn't matter where we pray. Our prayers will still be heard by God. But knowing that we are free to pray anywhere, the question is: How spontaneous are you with your praying? Do you feel that you have to wait until the end of the day to pray for a pressing concern that developed that day? Do you feel that you can give thanks on the spot when you have received a blessing?
Are you willing to pray in the car (not driving, of course) or just out for a walk?
The main thing is that in prayer you feel connected to God throughout the day.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Praying All Night
At our last Turnaround Team meeting the devotion centered on a passage about prayer in Luke's Gospel. The verse seemed powerful to me. The Evangelist Luke wrote: "At that time Jesus went up a hill to pray and spent the whole night there praying to God." (Luke 6:12)
This time of prayer was as he was about to pick his twelve disciples. Imagine what Jesus did knowing that he was to make a strategic decision - he prayed all night!
Ever have a tough decision to make? How much did you put yourself into it in terms of prayer? Was it more than one sentence?
I believe Jesus felt his decision was so important that he needed guidance as he wanted the message of the kingdom to continue through us as human beings.
How about you? The next time you have a tough decision to make, think about really putting yourself into the mode of prayer. You might be surprised with what you will discover - not just with the outcome but with what happens to you in the process.
This time of prayer was as he was about to pick his twelve disciples. Imagine what Jesus did knowing that he was to make a strategic decision - he prayed all night!
Ever have a tough decision to make? How much did you put yourself into it in terms of prayer? Was it more than one sentence?
I believe Jesus felt his decision was so important that he needed guidance as he wanted the message of the kingdom to continue through us as human beings.
How about you? The next time you have a tough decision to make, think about really putting yourself into the mode of prayer. You might be surprised with what you will discover - not just with the outcome but with what happens to you in the process.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Consider It Done
When we pray, we usually consider it to be a futuristic activity. We pray for something that we expect God to hear, maybe mull it over, and the answer is yet to come.
The other day, I had prayed about something that was heavy on my mind. When I had spoken to the appropriate individual, I discovered that attention had already been given to the matter. How would I know?
Sometimes in our praying, God has already set the answer in motion before we have prayed.
Listen to the words from the prophet Isaiah: "Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear." (Isaiah 65:23)
If we truly believe that God knows our needs - even better than we do - we can count on God to know what is best and even trust God's timing. That timing might possibly mean that the answer is already in the works.
Have you ever had this happen to you with prayer?
The other day, I had prayed about something that was heavy on my mind. When I had spoken to the appropriate individual, I discovered that attention had already been given to the matter. How would I know?
Sometimes in our praying, God has already set the answer in motion before we have prayed.
Listen to the words from the prophet Isaiah: "Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear." (Isaiah 65:23)
If we truly believe that God knows our needs - even better than we do - we can count on God to know what is best and even trust God's timing. That timing might possibly mean that the answer is already in the works.
Have you ever had this happen to you with prayer?
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