5 Steps to Deepen Your Prayer Life
“Rub a dub dub, thanks for the grub.” This might make you chuckle as you think back on family dinner prayers. “Now I lay me down to sleep. Pray the Lord my soul to keep.” This might take you back to your bedtime ritual or maybe Metallica’s famous Enter Sandman. For many people, their prayer life goes no further than these simple and repetitious prayers. But isn’t there a better way to pray? Absolutely!
What is prayer? Prayer is simply conversing with the God of the universe. It’s a conversation…but one with God! Now think about this. Imagine you went to you best friend, spouse, or child and talked to them in cute, memorized phrases. Chances are they’d be annoyed and you’d be bored. Why would we want to do that with God? We shouldn’t. So, what’s the alternative?
There are various prayer models to follow. Even Jesus Christ told His disciples (and us) how to pray (Matthew 6:9-13). The reformer Martin Luther wrote book “A Simple Way to Pray.” He suggested praying the Lord’s prayer, the 10 commandments, and the apostle’s creed. Let me offer a simple 5 step model and discipline that I have used in my prayer life.
ADORATION – Begin by talking to God about what you adore or love about Him. We are to respect and recognize God as more than just our heavenly Father. He is holy, just, all-knowing, all-powerful, everywhere, and so forth. Take a moment and recognize who God is (Matthew 6:9; Psalm 46:10).
CONFESSION – We all sin. Christian and non-Christian, we all sin. When we do we should be prompt to confess our sin to God. As a follower of Christ, you are forgiven. But like any relationship, when we wrong someone we should repent (apologize and try again). The same is certainly true of God. Admit your daily sins and say “I’m sorry, God” (1 John 1:9; Ps. 51:10-13).
THANKSGIVING – Matt Maher sang “everything is grace.” He is right. Look at your life and see all the blessings God has given you. Chances are, if you are reading this in America, you are doing better than the majority of people across the globe. If you have food in the pantry, give thanks. If you have transportation, a job, lights, running water, a Bible, a friend, a dollar in your pocket, etc. give thanks to God (Philippians 4:6-7; Psalm 100).
SUPPLICATION – Supplication simply means requests. We all have needs and wants. That’s okay. Make your requests made known to God. Do you have health needs? Monetary needs? Vacation wishes? Evangelistic desires? The needs of others? Ask God for these (1 Timothy 2:-14; Philippians 4:6-7; Psalm 20:4-5). But in all our request, submit to His will which is best (Matthew 6:10).
SILENCE – Silence or shut-up, as I remind myself. No one likes a one-sided relationship. After we ACTS, we need to be silent. We need to be quiet and listen to God. Take 10 minutes after verbalizing your prayer and be quiet. Take time each day to slow down and listen to God (Psalm 27:14; John 8:47; Proverbs 2:1-5).
I encourage you to deepen your prayer life. The God of the universe is there waiting to engage with you in a loving relationship made possible through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. You need no mediator to talk to God. He is there. Make Jesus Christ Lord and enter into God’s presence in the ACTSS discipline or however, the Spirit leads. Call out to Him! He is waiting for you.
Question: What part of the ACTSS model is hardest for you? Which is easiest? Share a special time when you connected with God through prayer.
What is prayer? Prayer is simply conversing with the God of the universe. It’s a conversation…but one with God! Now think about this. Imagine you went to you best friend, spouse, or child and talked to them in cute, memorized phrases. Chances are they’d be annoyed and you’d be bored. Why would we want to do that with God? We shouldn’t. So, what’s the alternative?
There are various prayer models to follow. Even Jesus Christ told His disciples (and us) how to pray (Matthew 6:9-13). The reformer Martin Luther wrote book “A Simple Way to Pray.” He suggested praying the Lord’s prayer, the 10 commandments, and the apostle’s creed. Let me offer a simple 5 step model and discipline that I have used in my prayer life.
ADORATION – Begin by talking to God about what you adore or love about Him. We are to respect and recognize God as more than just our heavenly Father. He is holy, just, all-knowing, all-powerful, everywhere, and so forth. Take a moment and recognize who God is (Matthew 6:9; Psalm 46:10).
CONFESSION – We all sin. Christian and non-Christian, we all sin. When we do we should be prompt to confess our sin to God. As a follower of Christ, you are forgiven. But like any relationship, when we wrong someone we should repent (apologize and try again). The same is certainly true of God. Admit your daily sins and say “I’m sorry, God” (1 John 1:9; Ps. 51:10-13).
THANKSGIVING – Matt Maher sang “everything is grace.” He is right. Look at your life and see all the blessings God has given you. Chances are, if you are reading this in America, you are doing better than the majority of people across the globe. If you have food in the pantry, give thanks. If you have transportation, a job, lights, running water, a Bible, a friend, a dollar in your pocket, etc. give thanks to God (Philippians 4:6-7; Psalm 100).
SUPPLICATION – Supplication simply means requests. We all have needs and wants. That’s okay. Make your requests made known to God. Do you have health needs? Monetary needs? Vacation wishes? Evangelistic desires? The needs of others? Ask God for these (1 Timothy 2:-14; Philippians 4:6-7; Psalm 20:4-5). But in all our request, submit to His will which is best (Matthew 6:10).
SILENCE – Silence or shut-up, as I remind myself. No one likes a one-sided relationship. After we ACTS, we need to be silent. We need to be quiet and listen to God. Take 10 minutes after verbalizing your prayer and be quiet. Take time each day to slow down and listen to God (Psalm 27:14; John 8:47; Proverbs 2:1-5).
I encourage you to deepen your prayer life. The God of the universe is there waiting to engage with you in a loving relationship made possible through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. You need no mediator to talk to God. He is there. Make Jesus Christ Lord and enter into God’s presence in the ACTSS discipline or however, the Spirit leads. Call out to Him! He is waiting for you.
Question: What part of the ACTSS model is hardest for you? Which is easiest? Share a special time when you connected with God through prayer.
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